Security sources tell us that in a joint IDF and ISA operation yesterday, the IDF targeted Mahmad Atik and Amjed Ajami, senior members of Islamic Jihad in the West Bank.
The Islamic Jihad infrastructure in the West Bank is one of the most dangerous terror infrastructures in the West Bank, responsible for numerous terror attacks, including most of the suicide attacks during the years 2005-2006. Among them are the suicide attacks in Tel Aviv central bus station on April 2006, the suicide attack in the Natanya mall in December 2005, the suicide attack in the Hadera market in October 2005, the suicide attack in the Natanya mall in July 2005, and the suicide attack in the Stage club in February 2005.
The two senior Islamic Jihad members, targeted in an aerial attack in Jenin this morning, were working to carry out a suicide attack inside Israel, under the pressure of Hezbollah members and the Islamic Jihad leadership in Syria.
The abilities of the two terrorists and their experience in assembling explosive devices and locating potential suicide bombers clearly shows that they are two of the most dangerous members of the deadly Islamic Jihad infrastructure in the West Bank.
Mahamd Maged Ahmad Atik, 28, from the village of Burqin is one of the leaders of the Islamic Jihad deadly infrastructure which operates in order to attack Israeli targets both inside Israel and in the West Bank. Since 2003, Atik's operations have been linked with the operations of senior Islamic Jihad members. Since January 2004, Atik has been working in cooperation with Iad Abu Rub, who before his arrest was one of the senior wanted Islamic Jihad members in Jenin.
In the past two years, Atik has been relentlessly operating to re-establish the Islamic Jihad infrastructure in the West Bank, marking himself as an axis for the groups operations and turning into a main target of the Israeli security forces. Atik is known for his involvement in guiding suicide attacks. For example, he took part in the attempt to carry out a suicide attack inside Israel in March 2006. The attempt was thwarted after a suicide bomber, Qafah Nohada from the village of Yamun, was arrested carrying a bag in which an explosive device, assembled by the Islamic Jihad infrastructure, was hidden.
Atik's involvement in directing suicide attacks has been increasing lately, and recent information indicates that an attack against Israeli targets was to be carried out in the next few days.
Amjed Saaid Ahmed Ajami, from the village of Atil near Tulkarm, is one of the leaders of the Islamic Jihad deadly infrastructure which operates in order to attack Israeli targets both inside Israel and the West Bank. Ajami, who has been wanted by Israel's security forces since May 2005, hid in the Palestinian Special Forces headquarters in the city of Tulkarm for a period of time. His involvement in locating suicide bombers and directing suicide attacks against Israel has increased lately.
Ajami was drafted a year and a half ago by Islamic Jihad in the West Bank and was meant to be one of two suicide bombers meant to carry out a double suicide attack in Jerusalem. The attack was thwarted by Israeli security forces in a large scale operation in which the bags loaded with explosives were discovered by security forces and one of the potential suicide bombers was arrested, along with the other front cell members who were drafted in the area of Ramallah.
In June 2006, Ajami was involved in the planning of a suicide attack and in the drafting of a suicide bomber. Ajami attempted to receive one of the two explosive bags and the explosive belt left as "inheritance" after Elias Ashkar was targeted in order to carry out the suicide attack.
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