May 2nd, 2005

BACKGROUND INFORMATION [Distributed by the IDF Spokesperson's Office]
Attributed to "security sources"

IDF soldier killed, another wounded during arrest activity

An IDF soldier was killed and an IDF soldier was lightly wounded in a
joint IDF and ISA activity to arrest wanted Islamic Jihad operatives in
the Tulkarm area. Islamic Jihad terrorist Shafik A-Aani, one of the
chief planners of the suicide bombing at the "Stage" nightclub in
Tel-Aviv, was killed.

During the IDF and ISA activity an IDF force approached the area where
two wanted terrorists were located. The terrorists identified the force
and opened fire at it. The IDF force returned fire, killing one of the
terrorists and wounding the second terrorist, who managed to escape.

The terrorist who was killed, Shafik Aadel Mustafa A-Aani, was one of
the most senior Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Tulkarm region, and one
of the chief planners of the suicide bombing at the "Stage" nightclub in
Tel-Aviv on 25th February, 2005, in which 5 Israeli civilians were
killed and 49 Israelis were wounded. He was in direct contact and
received orders from the Islamic Jihad headquarters in Syria.

A-Aani, 38, was a resident of the village of Tzeida.

After the suicide bombing at the "Stage" nightclub in Tel-Aviv, A-Aani
was arrested by the Palestinian Authority and jailed. However, he
escaped a week and a half ago, while armed and with no particular
difficulty, and returned to his village.

Islamic Jihad terrorists have been operating throughout the "period of
quiet" to try to carry out terrorist attacks inside Israel and against
Israeli civilians.