17 April 2004 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Attributed to "security sources"
[Distributed by IDF Spokesperson]

Terrorist organizations carry out terrorist attacks in civilian areas that
are important sites contributing to the welfare of Palestinian population,
in order to sabotage any co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians.

A Border Policeman was killed today in a suicide bombing at the workers
terminal near the Erez crossing. In Addition a Border Policeman was
critically injured, and an Israeli civilian, as well as another Border
Policeman were lightly injured in the attack.

The industrial area and the workers' terminal area, in which the recent
attack took place, are located in an area known as 'Erez' - all are very
valuable for Gaza residents.

The industrial zone is a central source of income for thousands of
Palestinian households and tens of thousands of Palestinians.

* More than 4,000 workers from Gaza work in the Erez industrial zone,
and support 30,000 close and extended family members. The workers are
working in Israeli, Palestinians factories and factories which are owned by
both Israelis and Palestinians.

* The workers' crossing area is a central artery for residents of the
Gaza Strip. Thousands of Palestinian workers pass through the crossing every
day. Before the attack this morning 2,900 Palestinian workers had already
passed through the crossing.

* Erez is continually a central target for terrorist attacks in the
eyes of terrorist organizations, among those the Fatah, Hamas and the
Islamic Jihad. This is due to the fact that Erez exemplifies the possibility
for cooperation and co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians.
Furthermore, by striking at the Palestinians' ability to earn a living, the
terrorist organizations attempt to present Israel as responsible for the
suffering of the Palestinians.

Such terrorist attacks are part of the terrorist organizations' policy,
which has a main objective to deliberately strike at and destroy essential
institutions for household income for the Palestinian population. For its
part, the Palestinian Authority which is obligated to assist in the economic
situation of Palestinians avoids taking any effective action to thwart such
attacks. This is part in parcel of the PA's general avoidance of fighting
terrorism.

During the current conflict, several incidents have occurred which
illustrate how terrorist organizations take advantage of easements for to
the Palestinians population for in order to perpetrate terrorist attacks.

* On March. 06, 2004, four terrorist traveling in three vehicles (two
of which were rigged with explosives) attempted to kill Israeli civilians
and IDF soldiers at the Erez crossing.

* On Feb. 26, 2004, an IDF reserve soldier was killed when two gunmen
infiltrated the Erez industrial zone through a tunnel.

* On Jan. 14, 2004, a female terrorist carried out a suicide bombing
attack in the workers crossing terminal in the Erez industrial zone, where
magnetic entering cards are being issued. As a result of the attack, one
civilian was murdered in addition to two IDF soldiers and a Border Police
soldier- Gal Shapira, Second Lt. Zur Or, Corporal Andrei Kalgas and Staff
Sergeant Vladimir Trostianski. The Hamas and Fatah terrorist organizations
claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. It is important to note that
it is the first time that Hamas used a female suicide bomber. The terminal
was severely damaged, and needed to be rebuilt. As a result, Palestinians
were not able to enter the industrial zone for a few days.

* On Dec. 4, 1003 a package consisting of components for making an
explosive device was discovered in a truck carrying mail out from the Gaza
Strip.

* On June 20, 2003, a terrorist attack using a bicycle laden with
explosives was thwarted at the Palestinians workers' crossing near Ganei
Tal.

* On June 8, 2003, four IDF soldiers were killed and four others
injured when three terrorists infiltrated the IDF post Magen 12, in the Erez
industrial zone.

* On April 15, 2003, two Israeli civilians were murdered when
Palestinians infiltrated the Karni terminal.

* On Feb. 21, 2003 a gunman armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle,
three hand grenades, four magazines, a knife and a cutter for cutting fences
infiltrated the Erez industrial zone and was killed.

* On May 12, 2003, an Israeli civilian was murdered when a Palestinian
worker opened fire at him at the Hila crossing.

* On April 20, 2002, a Border Police officer was killed when a
Palestinian gunman opened fire at an IDF post in Erez.

* On April 12, 2004, a Border Police officer was killed when a
Palestinian gunman opened fire at the Erez terminal.

* On Nov. 26, 2001, four IDF soldiers were lightly injured when a
suicide bomber blew him self up at the entrance of the Erez terminal.

Until today, A total of four Israeli civilians and ten security forces
personnel have been killed and eight Israelis injured.