Islamic Jihad Terrorists Admit to Receiving Funds and Orders from Syrian HQ
IDF Spokesperson 5 February 2003

During the months of December 2002 and January 2003 the Israel Security
Agency (ISA), in coordination with the IDF, arrested a number of Islamic
Jihad terrorists from the Hebron area. The terrorists were involved in a
wide range of paramilitary activity, which was directed by the Islamic Jihad
leadership in Hebron and Syria.

Attacks Perpetrated by the Apprehended Terrorists

The apprehended Islamic Jihad terrorists carried out the following attacks:

-December 27, 2002: Two Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists infiltrated the
Israeli community of Othniel, entered a Jewish seminary, and murdered two
Israeli civilians and two IDF soldiers. Ten other Israelis were wounded
during the infiltration.

-November 15, 2002: Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists opened fire and
threw grenades at Israeli Border Police near Worshippers Road in Hebron.
Twelve Israeli civilians and soldiers were killed while responding to the
attack.

During questioning by the ISA, the terrorists confessed to taking part in
terrorist activities for the Islamic Jihad in the Hebron area.

Extensive Involvement in Shooting Attacks

Questioning revealed the extent of the Islamic Jihad's involvement in
shooting attacks in the Hebron area.

The Islamic Jihad had actively planned shooting and bomb attacks against
Israeli targets in Hebron and nearby communities. Part of the planning
included extensive intelligence gathering, such as the establishment of
lookouts to monitor Israeli roads and outposts.

Acquired Weapons and Recruited New Members

During questioning, Israeli Security Forces gleaned essential information
regarding Islamic Jihad's method of acquiring weapons and recruitment of new
members. For example, new Islamic Jihad recruits undergo military training
and are taught how to carry out suicide bombings.

Israeli Security Forces also discovered that the Islamic Jihad had purchased
a variety of chemical materials with which to make explosives and had begun
to manufacture mortars.

Palestinian-Syrian Link

The terrorists admitted that Hebron's Islamic Jihad was extensively involved
with Islamic Jihad headquarters in Syria, from whom they received a
significant amount of money to fund their terrorist activities.

The funds provided by the Syrian Islamic Jihad headquarters were used to
purchase weapons and bomb-making materials. A portion of the funds were
transferred to the families of suicide bombers and arrested terrorists with
the goal of encouraging additional Palestinians to participate in terrorism.

In addition, numerous commands were issued from the Syrian headquarters to
escalate the level of violence by engaging in a stepped-up bombing campaign.

Apprehended Terrorists Trained the Othniel Infiltrators

Several of the arrested terrorists had trained and provided transportation
for those who infiltrated the community of Othniel. The terrorists also
filmed and distributed their "martyr's speech," and circulated banners as
well as posters with the attackers' photos. In addition, the terrorists
established houses of "mourning" for the dead infiltrators.

Temporary Disruption of Islamic Jihad's Terrorist Activity

The arrest of the above-mentioned terrorists has temporarily disrupted the
Islamic Jihad's terrorist infrastructure in Hebron-making it more difficult
for them to carry out successful terrorist attacks against Israeli targets.

It should be noted that several of these terrorists had been arrested by
Palestinian Security Forces, but were quickly released.