Sharon orders forces to target leaders of Islamic Jihad

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today said he had ordered his security forces to target the leaders of Islamic Jihad in the wake of a suicide bombing by the Palestinian militant group that killed three people in the Israeli seaside resort of Netanya.

Yesterday’s bombing came despite a shaky five-month-old truce that has greatly reduced violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

Speaking to a group of new immigrants at Ben Gurion International Airport, Sharon expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and promised swift retaliation.

“I ordered the security forces to increase our actions and hit the leadership of the Islamic Jihad. We will not stop until they stop the terrorist murders,” he said.