UK Bombers Helped by Journalist
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The British Pakistani terrorists who attacked Mike’s Place in Tel Aviv were able to cross the checkpoints from Gaza into Israel because they were given a ride by an Italian journalist. (Hat tip: Mojo Jojo.)
The two traveled to Israel via Jordan, crossing the Allenby Bridge on April 12, and then proceeded to travel throughout the country, as well as the West Bank and Gaza, without hindrance. In Gaza, they finalized plans for the attack with Hamas leaders in the Strip and created a “cover” for themselves by posing as left-wing activists and attending events sponsored by the International Solidarity Movement.
The biggest problem they faced was how to cross from Gaza back into Israel once they were ready to carry out the attack. They solved this problem with the aid of an Italian journalist, who offered them a ride through the checkpoint in her car together with some other Italian journalists.
At the time, foreign journalists were allowed to pass through checkpoints virtually without inspection, so this assistance enabled the two to slip through undiscovered. It is because of this incident that Israel has since tightened the rules for foreign journalists and now insists on subjecting them to checkpoint inspections.
The Italian journalist was interrogated by the police and the Shin Bet security service, but apparently had no idea that the two were terrorists. She has since left the country. The left-wing activists with whom Sharif and Hanif spent time in Gaza have also been interrogated, and some have been deported. But they also appear to have been unaware that the two were terrorists.
Whether or not the ISM members knew what these murderers were planning (and I’m not so sure they didn’t), it’s clear that the terror gangs in Gaza understand the value of having Western tools to give them cover.