Palestinian militant killed by own bomb

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 12, 2001

JERUSALEM -- A Palestinian militant from the Hamas group blew himself up while trying to plant a bomb along a road used frequently by Israelis in the West Bank, Israel said Thursday. Hamas said he died under "heroic" circumstances.

Meanwhile, a top Palestinian official linked the Palestinian fight against Israel to terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden for the first time.

Though casualties have been low on both sides of the Mideast conflict in recent days, Israel says the Palestinians have failed to arrest militants and meet other commitments under a truce reached three weeks ago.

Israel has been "compelled to deal with Palestinian terrorism directly and use all means at its disposal in order to foil planned attacks," a government statement said.

In the latest incident, the dismembered body of 22-year-old Hamas activist Hani Rawajbeh was found early Thursday near a road used by Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers. A soldier was slightly wounded Wednesday in a bomb explosion on the road.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright