May. 4, 2003 Mofaz: Explosives used in Tel Aviv attack were smuggled inside a Koran By THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFF
"The explosive material used in the bombing on Mike's Place in Tel Aviv last Tuesday night was smuggled inside a Koran," revealed Minister of Defense, Shaul Mofaz, at a Cabinet meeting Sunday.
According to Ynet, Mofaz said that the explosives were hidden inside a Koran and smuggled into Israel from overseas.
Three people were killed in the attack outside Mike's Place, a pub right next to the US embassy building.
Mofaz recommended Sunday that the cabinet limit the access of foreign nationals to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as a means of avoiding terror attacks by perpetrators from overseas, media reports said. Mofaz said such a step may be necessary in the wake of the suicide bombing carried out last week by a terrorist with a British passport.
The authorities are still looking for a second accomplice, also a British passport holder, who absconded from the scene early Wednesday, leaving his bomb behind because it was faulty. Also under investigation is how the authorities permitted the terrorists to reach the Gaza Strip after arriving at Ben-Gurion Aiport outside Tel Aviv, and then to reenter Israel, to stage their attack.
Mofaz's comments also follow the killing of a British photographer in Gaza this weekend, the latest of a series of shootings in that area to which foreigners have fallen victim. The IDF is investigating whether James Miller, 35, was shot by a soldier or by Palestinians on Friday, as died apparently amid an intense exchange of fire between IDF forces and Palestinians in Rafiah
Also at the Cabinet meeting, the Defense Minister expressed doubts that the Palestinians would change their policies. "Arafat plans to do everything he can to thwart Abu Mazen. The double-focused leadership will not lead to a war on terror," said Mofaz.
Mofaz added that Israel would not declare a ceasefire without evidence that the Palestinian Authority was fighting terrorism. Mofaz said that the reforms in the Palestinian Authority would not be complete until all the security forces were brought under one central command, which would not be Arafat.
Relating to Syria, the Defense Minister denied the reports that Syria had started acting against terrorist groups which hold offices there, and said that US pressure on Syria was centered around the issue of Iraq.
