Ben-Eliezer: Planned 'Mega-Attack' May Take Place Despite Shehadeh's Killing

July 26, 2002

Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on Friday said it was not clear whether the 'mega-attack' which slain terrorist Salah Shehadeh was planning to carry out was, indeed, eliminated by his killing.

In a visit to Nahariya Hospital Friday, Ben-Eliezer said an announcement made by a faction of the Fatah movement known as "The Return Brigade" Thursday, targeting senior Israeli government and army officials, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, should not be taken seriously, Israel Radio reported.

He told Israel Radio he had arrived at this conclusion following "intelligence material I hold."

The announcement threatened to target, among others, former prime minister Ehud Barak, OC Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon, his predecessor, Lt.-Gen. (res.) Shaul Mofaz and Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter, in response to Israel's killing of Shehadeh and 14 other Palestinians, among them nine children, in Gaza earlier this week.

"(If you) look into this list, you'll find there officials whose inclusion is not serious," Ben-Eliezer told Israel Radio, "just the same as the fact that (truly influential) officials were not included."

He reiterated his grief over the taking of innocent lives along with Shehadeh's, in the attack in Gaza. "We will have to learn how this happened and draw the relevant conclusions," he said. "I will say also that I still do not hold all of the information pertaining to the killings," he added.

Referring to the 'mega-attack' that Shehade was reportedly planning, which was to include a ton of explosives, Ben-Eliezer said there is no information refuting the possibility of its taking place, despite the killing of Shehadeh.

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