'Gov't not pursuing Hebron killers'
Following a deadly terrorist attack near Hebron three weeks ago in which two off-duty Israeli soldiers were killed, the government has so far prevented an IDF raid which would likely succeed in detaining the Palestinians suspected of perpetrating the attack, it was reported on Wednesday.
A document obtained by Channel 2 revealed that Prime Minster Ehud Olmert allowed the Palestinian Authority to transfer the killers to Jericho on condition that the Palestinians would proceed with bringing the attackers to justice and that Israel trusted that the PA would do so.
According to the report, two IDF units are ready to launch an operation and enter Jericho to detain two of the suspects involved in the attack, but have not been allowed to do so due to a government decision forbidding such a move.
The TV channel quoted IDF sources as saying that they wanted to bring the killers to justice to send a tough message to the Palestinians.
The State Prosecution explained that "the prime minister gave permission to the Palestinians to transfer the suspects to Jericho, where [the Palestinian Authority] would then proceed with the matter."
Further, it said that "the matter of whether to submit a request to transfer the suspects to Israel will be considered after the suspects are transferred to Jericho, according to the circumstances and depending on how the Palestinians handle the issue."
Private Ahikam Amihai (20) and Sergeant David Rubin (21) were killed three weeks ago when they were ambushed by a passing car while they were hiking in the Hebron Hills. The victims, both members of elite IDF units, managed to fire back at their attackers, killing one of them and seriously wounding another.
Yehuda Amihai, father of Ahikam, said that "the IDF could have immediately, the day after the attack, arrested the attackers but for a political decision."
The families of the soldiers were enraged by the report, saying that their sons fought to the death but the government is now letting the terrorists go, Channel 2 said.
In response, the Prime Minister's Office said that the decision was made after consultations with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and that Israel has all the necessary means to deal with the matter if the Palestinians don't bring the killers to justice.
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