Jerusalem, June 11: Israeli security services have intelligence on plans for 53 attacks, military radio reported today, a day after Israeli forces failed in a bid to assassinate Abdul Aziz al-Rantissi, a leader of the hardline militant group Hamas. Half of the attacks were planned by Hamas, which has been responsible for the bulk of anti-Israeli attacks in recent years, the radio added.
Rantissi and other Hamas officials vowed bloody retaliation yesterday after the helicopter strike in central Gaza.
According to the intelligence material gathered by Israel, Rantissi had recently advocated resuming suicide attacks inside Israel during a recent meeting with the movement's spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin.
Rantissi's intention was also to force Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas to come back on his statement at last week's peace summit in Aqaba, Jordan, in which he promised to put an end to the armed struggle.
Bureau Report