Masked gunmen opened fire on a Palestinian minister and a top economic official in a Jenin restaurant today, the latest in a series attacks on Palestinian officials in the increasingly lawless West Bank. Both men escaped without injury, but two bystanders were lightly injured, including a Palestinian policemen. Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
| "Yeah. It wuz us. We almost dunnit, an' we're glad!" |
Palestinian Health Minister Jawad Tibi,
| ... who is named after a leg bone... |
and Mohammad Shtayyeh,
| ... whose name sounds like a nasal eruption... |
managing director of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction, were in Jenin to attend the opening ceremony of a new hospital. After the ceremony, they went to lunch at a restaurant in the town centre. As they sat down to eat, three masked gunmen opened fire on the officials and called out that they were "not welcome" in their town, witnesses said.
"This town ain't big enough fer the two of us, Tibia!"
"Ummm... There's three of youse!"
"This town ain't big enough fer the four of us, then!" |
Palestinian security officials said the attackers had only been trying to intimidate the men.
| "Shucks. We wuz jes' a-funnin' with them!" |
The attackers had previously threatened to shut down all Palestinian Authority offices in the town unless their demands were fulfilled. The group asked the Palestinian Authority for money and greater political recognition, but their requests have so far gone unanswered. After the attack, Zacariyya Zubeidi, head of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades cell from the nearby Jenin refugee camp rushed to the scene. Zubeidi condemned his colleagues’ tactics, called them "delinquents", and invited the minister to lunch at a home in the camp.
"Sounds good. What're we having?"
"Roast land mine." |
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