 |
 |
 |
|
|
Nazareth children stand by holes in wall caused by Katyusha rocket that killed their neighbors. (AP)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Associated Press July 19, 2006 |
|
| |
 |
| Rabiah, 7, and Mahmoud Talussi, 4 |
| |
Hezbollah rockets slammed into the Israeli-Arab town of Nazareth, the "hometown of Jesus," on Wednesday, killing two young Arab brothers as they played outside and wounding 18 other people, Israeli authorities said.
In Nazareth, smoke billowed from a building damaged in one of the strikes on the town of 70,000 about 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of the Lebanese border. Nazareth is the largest Israeli-Arab town in the country and is the center of Arab life in northern Israel.
"They're firing at Muslims and places sacred to Christianity," government spokesman David Baker said.
A second Katyusha rocket landed in a densely populated neighborhood, killing Muslim two brothers, Mahmoud Talussi, 4, and Rabiah, 7, as they played outside, relatives said.
The deadly blast hit an alleyway between two houses, leaving a meter-deep crater in the ground and tearing a hole through a wall in one house. A bathroom inside was exposed and water shot out of burst pipes into the street.
"At first I saw one boy about 10 meters (yards) from the explosion area. He was burned black and full of blood," said Essam Hassan, a neighbor. "Then I saw another child about two meters (yards) from him. He was also burned and without his lower jaw. People came and covered them with blankets."
Tarek Mrawat, the boys' cousin, said the blast hit outside their uncle's house, where they played everyday.
"I'm not blaming anyone. I cannot transfer my emotions now to politics," he said.
A total of 18 people were wounded in the attacks on Nazareth, police said.
Air raid sirens routinely sound in many Jewish towns before a rocket attack, but local Arab leader Shawki al Khatib said the town had no sirens installed, and others said they would have had no place to take cover if there had been sirens.
"There are no shelters here at all, at all, at all," Mrawat said.
Cabinet Minister Haim Ramon said he regretted the problem with the sirens.
"I imagine these things will be fixed at once," he told Channel 2 TV. "It's not good that they weren't done before this attack. I'm convinced that they will be done afterward. They won't help those who were hurt, and I would like to express my regret and my condolences, but perhaps they will prevent future victims."
Nazareth is revered as the Galilee town where Jesus was raised and is filled with churches, including the Basilica of the Annunciation, the largest basilica in the Middle East, which towers over the town center. The basilica stands on the site where Christians believe the Angel Gabriel appeared before Mary and told her of the coming birth of Jesus.
Khatib said he was not surprised the town was hit.
"A Katyusha that is fired does not discriminate," he told Israel's Channel 2 TV.
Previous attacks during the 8-day-old rocket barrage have hit the nearby Jewish town of Upper Nazareth, but the wave fired Wednesday afternoon was the first to hit near holy places in northern Israel, which is filled with churches built on important Christian sites.
Medics in northern Israel said more than 140 rockets had been fired from south Lebanon during the day. Since fighting began on July 12, 15 Israelis have been killed in rocket attacks and 14 soldiers have been killed in fighting.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
