Ten Israelis were killed this morning and five wounded in a shooting attack at an IDF roadblock near Ofra in the West Bank. One Israeli was killed and four others were injured in a shooting attack south of the Kissufim Crossing in the Gaza Strip. Last night, nine Israelis were killed and 57 wounded in a suicide bombing attack in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood of Jerusalem. And yesterday the bullet-ridden body of a police officer was discovered in the Judean Desert.

According to media reports, a single Palestinian sniper, using a relatively primitive Carbine rifle, opened fire on the Ofra roadblock from a hilltop position shortly after 7 a.m. this morning. The gunman fired at soldiers at the roadblock, at civilian vehicles nearby and at the rescue crews that arrived at the scene. Only when the terrorist's rifle jammed, did he stop firing and flee the area. Soldiers returned fire and gave pursuit, but the terrorist managed to escape into Palestinian-controlled territory.

"When we got to the roadblock we realized that they were shooting at us from the hill to the west," said eyewitness Esther Lev. "We also noticed that all the cars continued to drive into the area of the roadblock without knowing it was a trap. We saw someone lying on the ground, and realized he was dead."

A reserve soldier who recently completed a term of duty at the roadblock told ynet that there were many warnings that terrorists were targeting the Ofra roadblock. "The roadblock is in a very vulnerable location, easily visible from all directions," he said. "On the other hand, it serves as a roadblock between Samaria and the Jerusalem area, and only a week ago we apprehended a wanted terrorist there."

One killed south of Kissufim Crossing
One Israeli was killed and four others were wounded when Palestinians terrorists opened fire Sunday morning on an IDF post near the Kissufim Crossing in the Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian sources, IDF forces entered Palestinian-controlled territory immediately after the attack and tanks knocked down two Palestinian checkpoints. Soldiers reportedly managed to shoot and kill one of the terrorists.

The army went on high alert in the area due to reports that two Palestinian gunmen had infiltrated into Israel near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, Beeri, and Kerem Shalom. The alert was later rescinded after the terrorists returned to Palestinian-controlled areas within the Gaza Strip. In addition, Palestinians opened fire on a convoy of Israeli vehicles on the Karni-Netzarim road this morning. There were no injuries, but damage was caused to a number of cars, Israel Radio reported.

Suicide bomber wreaks havoc at Bar Mitzvah celebration
Nine Israelis were killed and 57 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Mahane Yisrael guesthouse in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Beit Yisrael in Jerusalem. The attack occurred as celebrants were leaving the Bar Mitzvah celebrations of Neve Hazan, and the victims included two infants, and four members of the same family.

According to media reports, the suicide bomber arrived at the scene on Haim Ozer Street dressed like an ultra-Orthodox Haredi Jew. But according to a report in Ha'aretz, police later discounted this theory and denied residents' charges that they had ignored warnings of suspicious characters in the area. The attack occurred at the exact spot where a car bomb exploded in February 2001, causing no injuries. Beit Yisrael is located a few hundred meters from the Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.

"There was a huge explosion and immediately people starting screaming for help," Yosef Naki, a resident of the neighborhood, told Maariv. "There was blood on the walls, smoke and broken glass everywhere."

The bomber wore a belt containing a large amount of explosives. As a result of the blast, four cars were set on fire, raising suspicion at first of a car bombing.

"I can't believe this is happening to us," said Aviva Nahmani, the mother of the Bar Mitzvah boy. "After the explosion, everything was destroyed. I ran looking for my three children… I will never forget what I saw, infants that were injured, bodies. It was shocking."

The Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack and the terrorist was identified as Muhammad Darameh, 20, of the Dehaishe refugee camp near Bethlehem. Hundreds of Palestinians staged an impromptu celebration, chanting, "revenge, revenge," and firing guns into the air at the entrance to Dehaishe camp, Reuters reported.

Police detective murdered during desert excursion
Bedouin shepherds discovered on Saturday the bullet-ridden body of Jerusalem Police detective, Supt. Moshe Dayan, 40, from Maale Adumim, several hundred meters from the Mar Saba Monastery in the Judean Desert. Dayan's body was discovered near his motorbike; he often drove alone on desert trails in the region.

Media reports differed as to the circumstances of Dayan's death. Some reports indicated he was shot from a distance, while others suggested that he was killed at close range. Dayan's weapon and identity papers were found with his body, suggesting that his killers did not realize that they had killed a police officer.

Over the weekend seven residents of the Gilo neighborhood in southern Jerusalem were injured by Palestinian gunfire, including Rachel Mizrachi, 58, who was moderately injured as she walked in the street on Thursday evening. Some 70 apartments in the neighborhood sustained damage and over ten vehicles were hit.

Dozens of shooting and bombing attacks occurred over the weekend. Palestinian sources said the escalation of violence was in response to IDF operations in the Jenin and Balata refugee camps. Palestinians opened fire at the settlement of Psagot, at IDF forces near Halamish and in Hebron. Two Kassam rockets landed in Israeli territory on Friday, causing no damage. Eight mortars landed near Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip overnight. In addition, IDF forces spotted two Palestinians attempting to place an explosive device along the border fence north of Nahal Oz, opened fire and killed one and injured the other.

© 2001-2002 Koret Communications Ltd. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.