Palestinians: We launched rocket from Jenin
After attempting to fire rocket from West Bank town of Tul Karm, Palestinians claim they launched rocket from Jenin into Israel. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades: 'All Israeli cities within our rockets' range'
For the second time in past few days Palestinians attempted to launch a rocket from northern Samaria into Israel. On Monday evening terrorists claimed they succeeded in launching a rocket from the West Bank town of Jenin into Israel.
IDF officials have denied any knowledge regarding the rocket launch attempt, saying that if one took place the rocket may not have reached the lift-off stage. Last weekend Palestinians failed in their attempt to fire a rocket from the West Bank town of Tul Karm.
The statement regarding the rocket launching from Jenin came from al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades members calling themselves “the cells of the Martyr Yasser Arafat” and from Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, the al-Quds Brigades. According to the sources, the rocket was fired as retaliation to the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip in to mark the one year anniversary of the death of a senior al-Aqsa member Warad Abahara, who was killed by the IDF.
IDF officials said that they have no knowledge of an attempt to fire a ballistic missile from Jenin into Israel. They also added that even if such an attempt took place the rocket never reached the lift-off stage.
'We have no choice but to retaliate'
Head of the Gilboa Regional Council, Danny Atar, said in response to the Palestinian claims “It simply did not happen.”
Following the Palestinian organizations' statement, a senior al-Aqsa Brigades member said that that an explosion was heard between the West Bank town if Jenin and the Israeli Taanachim region. The senior member could not say where the rocket landed, if at all, but said that large IDF forces have been seen in Jenin area.
"It's possible that it was a failed launch, but the initial failed launching of rockets in the Strip improved and reached the current stage. We are aware of the fact that the IDF views this launch with the utmost severity but with the situation in Gaza we have no choice but to retaliate and we must improve."
The senior member continued: "In time, all of Israel's cities will be in our rockets' range."
A senior Palestinian security official in Jenin area said that he has knowledge of the report but can not confirm it at this time.
