Back to PLO Bulletin 1 November 1978

MILITARY OPERATIONS

Palestinian commandos inside occupied Palestine have carried out a series of military operations against Zionist targets, as their contribution to the wave of protests, strikes and demonstrations through which our people in the occupied territories continues to express their complete rejection of the "self-rule" swindle.

The following are communiques issued by the Palestinian military spokesman.

No. 146/78:

On 12 October 1978, our special commando unit "B" placed a timed explosive charge inside the central vegetable market in al-Ramleh. The charges were discovered at 6:20 PM of the same day just before they were due to explode. The Israeli security forces immediately vacated the market and called in explosives experts who removed the charges and detonated them elsewhere. Security men then combed the area in a search for other charges. Our commandos returned safely to base.

No. 147/78:

Commando unit "A", operating inside occupied Palestine, placed a number of incendiary charges in several parts of an oil factory in the Petah Tikva settlement. On 13 October 1978, the charges exploded one after the other inside the factory causing a state of confusion among the Israeli settlers. Fires immediately raged in the raw materials depots and the fuel, and spread to other departments, despite attempts by fire brigades to control the blaze. The enemy radio admitted that seven Israelis working in the factory were wounded, that sections of the factory were destroyed and that the fire continued burning in the raw materials and fuel stores for a long time.

COMMANDO OPERATIONS IN JERUSALEM AND BAT YAM

No. 148/78:

On the morning of 17 October 1978, one of our special commando units placed timed incendiary charges below a police truck used for transporting ammunition, while it was parked in front of the police headquarters in Jerusalem.

The charges went off, destroying the truck and seriously injuring two police officers. Israeli security forces immediately vacated the area and called in explosives experts who combed the area in a search for other charges. A number of Palestinians were consequently arrested on charges of being involved in the operation. Our commandos returned to base safely.

No. 149/78:

On 16 October 1978, one of our commando units operating inside occupied Palestine placed timed explosive charges at the exit of the Israeli intelligence office which is responsible for the security of the central bus station at Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv.

At 1:30 PM on the same day, the charges exploded, injuring a number of Israelis inside the office and setting the premises on fire.

Israeli police immediately closed off the area, checked identity cards of all persons leaving the station and arrested a number of Palestinians on the pretext of their involvement in the operation. Our commandos returned safely to base.

No. 150/78:

On 26 October 1978, our commandos operating inside occupied Palestine placed timed explosive charges in front of a shop in the Bir Sabe' central market. The charges exploded, killing or injuring an unspecified number of Israeli settlers, destroying several shops and breaking windows.

Ambulances were consequently rushed to the site of the explosion to evacuate the casualties, while police encircled the market and began a search for other charges.

COMMANDO OPERATION IN TEL AVIV

No. 151/78:

Acting on orders, a special commando unit on 26 October 1978, placed explosive charges in a yard near the Country Club area to the north of Tel Aviv. At 9.30 pm, when the area is usually crowded, the charges exploded, killing or injuring five Israelis and breaking windows of three nearby shops.

Police forces subsequently arrived at the site of the blast, after their patrols had checked the surrounding streets, and arrested a number of Palestinian citizens for their alleged connection with the operation. The unit safely returned to base.