Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades: "Suicide attacks will continue"
IDF Spokesperson 12 January 2002

The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement headed
by Yasser Arafat, claimed responsibility for the double suicide bombing in
Tel Aviv on Jan. 5, 2003 and promised to continue to carry out suicide
attacks against Israeli civilians.

A young female operative from the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades wearing an
explosives belt.
http://www.idf.il/newsite/images/0111-2p.jpg

The following is a translation of the announcement released by the Al Aqsa
Martyrs Brigades on Jan. 10, 2003 claiming responsibility for the attack:

"In the name of Allah the merciful and compassionate, the Al Aqsa Martyrs
Brigades announce [officially],

Allah Akbar Allah Akbar Allah Akbar

[verse from the Koran is quoted]

The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades bless the families of the two suicide bombers,
Buraq Rifat Abd Alrahman Halfa and Samar Imad Mohammad Ibrahim Alnouri, with
pride and respect.

We bless our Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic faith in the double
[suicide bombing] activities in Tel Aviv on Jan. 5, 2003. The Al Aqsa
Martyrs Brigades emphasize that they adhere to the vow and commitment to
martyrdom, to the prisoners, to the injured and to the Palestinian people.
The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades proclaims that it will continue with its Jihad
activities until the removal of the occupation from our land, no matter how
many victims we suffer. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades warns those who speak
irresponsibly and support programs of submission.

Palestine is not merchandise lying on a table that the mighty can divide as
they please.

The false announcements denouncing the brave activities [the double suicide
bombing in Tel Aviv] do not represent the views of the Palestinian public
throughout Palestine and in the diaspora, as was expressed by their joy [for
the fact that the suicide bombing took place].

We swear before our people that we shall avenge the martyrs and carry out
further suicide activities until the occupation has been removed from our
land.

Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, speak and act, promise and fulfill their promises

The Popular Army

Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades

Palestine Jan. 10, 2003"

Note: This proclamation by the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades was designed to
remove the doubts surrounding the organization's responsibility for the
suicide attacks in Tel Aviv on Jan. 5, 2003 in which 22 civilians, Israeli
and foreign nationals, were murdered. This doubt was mainly due to claims by
High Ranking members of the PA and the Fatah movement who said that a terror
organization with links to Iran was responsible for the attack. The Al Aqsa
Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement, described by the
European Union, America and Israel as a "terrorist organization", continue
to see the pattern of suicide bombings as the preferred way to wage their
armed struggle against Israel.

The IDF is operating in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in order to thwart
the intentions of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and other Palestinian
terrorist organizations to carry out terrorist attacks, and especially
suicide bombings against Israeli citizens.

Shown below is a copy of the announcement published by the Al Aqsa Martyrs
Brigades:
http://www.idf.il/newsite/images/0111-2p2.gif