IDF arrests Palestinian ambulance driver carrying explosives
IDF Spokesperson 27 March 2002

Apprehension of Ambulance Harboring a Wanted Terrorist and Weapons at a
Checkpoint Near Ramallah
Today, 27 March 2002, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Isalam Jibril, a Tanzim
activist, born in 1971 and resident of the Balata Refugee Camp, was arrested
at an IDF roadblock near Ramallah. He was arrested while working as the
driver of a Red Crescent ambulance. An explosive belt and other explosive
charges were seized from the ambulance. The ambulance driver admitted that
these were given to him in Nablus by Mahmud Titi- one of the senior Tanzim
activists in Samaria, who is recognized with the organization's leaders,
including Marwan Barghouti - in order to transfer them to Tanzim operatives
in Ramallah.

In addition to the wanted terrorist in the ambulance, an additional man,
woman and three children aged 6 months, three-years and four-years old were
present in the ambulance. The explosive belt was made of 16 pipes that were
comprised of 10 kilograms of explosive materials. The belt was concealed
under the mattress of the gurney upon which one of the children laid.

It is important to clarify that this is not the first time in which an
ambulance has been used for the transfer of terrorists and weapons, and that
workers of the Palestinian Red Crescent have been sent on missions of
terrorist organizations. For example, Faah Aydris, a worker for the
Palestinian Red Crescent who perpetrated a suicide bombing on Jaffa Street
in Jerusalem, last January.

The organizations operate on a basis that ambulances and medical crews are
not being checked and examined thoroughly in IDF checkpoints, and are
cynically exploiting the instructions given to soldiers with an emphasis on
their behavior towards a civilian population the ill and children.

The seizure of the explosive charges in the ambulance provides evidence of
the continuation of the Tanzim activity to initiate a massive killing attack
even when negotiating a cease fire, as well as their determination to take
advantage of every alleged "breakthrough" in the IDF's preparations to
thwart terror attacks, even if it is made out of clear humanitarian motives.
All that in order to continue to attack even with risk to lives of children,
the ill and Palestinian medical personnel.

The event also supports the need of IDF soldiers to continue to closely
check Palestinian ambulances that pass through checkpoints. The Palestinian
Authority frequently complains to the media and to international bodies, but
if it only ordered its people to cease its cynical use of ambulances for the
use of terror. Ambulances that should be using their capability to
contribute to the well being of the Palestinian public.