Freed Terrorist Planned Suicide Attack
Arutz7 - June 19, 2005
Another Arab terrorist freed by PM Sharon this year was arrested Friday night by the IDF before he could launch a suicide bombing. Condoleezza Rice called on Israel to release more Arab prisoners.
The government disclosed Saturday night that soldiers uncovered an explosives laboratory in Jenin, where 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of explosive material was ready for a suicide attack. One of those arrested was Rami Mohamed Kandil, 21, an Islamic Jihad terrorist who the Sharon government released in February as one of its "good will" measures to build up confidence in Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas). Security officials said Kandil was planning a suicide attack.
He is one of 900 freed prisoners and terrorists who signed a pledge not to engage in terror activity. The Sharon government also was bolstered by assurances by Abu Mazen that the "era of suicide bombings" is over. Other freed prisoners and terrorists recently have been arrested, including one who planned a suicide attack and another who was preparing explosives.
Despite Friday night's arrest, United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Israel to free more Arab terrorists, withdraw all military personnel from Jenin and Shechem and allow the PA to take full responsibility for security in the cities. After meeting with Abu Mazen, Rice stated on Saturday that she cannot believe Arab mothers want their children to become suicide bombers.
Israel has arrested several suicide bomb gangs in the past month, including four teenagers arrested last week in Shechem, southeast of Jenin. They are members of Abu Mazen's Fatah party terrorist branch, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, and had prepared a video explaining their planned attack.
Rice dodged reporters' question on the Hamas terror organization's participation in PA elections. She acknowledged that the United States had labeled Hamas as a terrorist group but that its running in elections is an internal PA issue.