Ha'aretz (www.haaretzdaily.com) reports that the Muhanad Taher, the head of Hamas in Nablus was killed by the IDF (Israel's army or Israel Defense Forces).

Taher was a bomb maker, responsible for the death of hundreds of unarmed Israeli civilians, including kids (see the Palestine page for a list of genocide bombings).

Muhanad Taher, 26, described by Palestinians as "the Engineer-4", was killed in a raid by an elite IDF unit in the West Bank city of Nablus on Sunday. Taher, the head of Hamas's military wing in Nablus and a bomb-maker, topped Israel's most-wanted list.

A resident of Nablus, Taher learnt religious studies at the Al-Nagah University in the West Bank city, which is considered a Hamas stronghold and recruitment center for potential suicide bombers. Over the years, Taher specialized in bomb-making and for the past two months commanded of the group's military wing in Samaria.

According to Israeli security sources, Taher was directly involved in dozens of terror attacks in which more than 100 Israelis were killed.

Taher was directly responsible for last month's suicide bombing at the Jerusalem Pat Junction, which killed 19 Israelis. He recruited the bomber and also supervised the explosive laboratory that produced the bomb.

I copy the full article below.

Background / The Hamas bomb-maker's long line of attacks
By Amos Harel, Ha'aretz Correspondent
http://news.haaretz.co.il/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=182104

Muhanad Taher, 26, described by Palestinians as "the Engineer-4", was killed in a raid by an elite IDF unit in the West Bank city of Nablus on Sunday. Taher, the head of Hamas's military wing in Nablus and a bomb-maker, topped Israel's most-wanted list.

A resident of Nablus, Taher learnt religious studies at the Al-Nagah University in the West Bank city, which is considered a Hamas stronghold and recruitment center for potential suicide bombers. Over the years, Taher specialized in bomb-making and for the past two months commanded of the group's military wing in Samaria.

According to Israeli security sources, Taher was directly involved in dozens of terror attacks in which more than 100 Israelis were killed.

Taher began his Hamas career as a member in the group's military squad, established by Mohammed Abu-Hanud (assassinated by Israel last November) and activist Halil Sharif - a former Palestinian Authority security officer. The squad was responsible for planting explosive devices and shooting attacks in the Nablus area.

Security officials believe that Taher participated in preparing the Mahane Yehuda market attack in Jerusalem on July 30, 1997 and the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall attack in Jerusalem on September 4, 1997, which killed a total of 20 Israelis and injured over 300.

Taher was arrested by PA security forces in June 1998 but by the end of 2000, the first months of the second Intifada, was released along with other top Hamas officials.

At the beginning of last year, Taher dispatched a suicide bomber to carry out an attack in Israel. On March 1, the bomber blew himself up in a taxi in the Wadi Ara area, killing one Israeli civilian. Taher was also responsible for recruiting and dispatching a suicide bomber to Kfar Sava on April 22 last year. The bomber detonated his explosives near a bus, killing one Israeli civilian and injuring 47.

Taher's status in the organization rose, especially after the assassination of Sheiks Jamal Salim Damoni and Jamal Mansour last August. Taher was involved in recruiting the bomber who blew himself up on a bus in Haifa on December 2, 2001. 15 Israelis were killed and more than 50 were injured in the explosion.

The Hamas bomb-maker assisted in the execution of terror attacks in Netanya and Hadera last December and January of this year. In March, the unit he oversaw and supplied Tul Karm's Hamas faction with the explosive device used by the Park Hotel suicide bomber, Abad al Karim Baset. The attack on the first night of Pesach, killed 29 Israelis.

The day after the Park Hotel bombing, Taher dispatched a terrorist to the West Bank settlement of Elon Moreh who killed four members of the same family.

Taher was directly responsible for last month's suicide bombing at the Jerusalem Pat Junction, which killed 19 Israelis. He recruited the bomber and also supervised the explosive laboratory that produced the bomb.

According to Shin Bet officials, Taher was also involved in the Netanya mall suicide attack in May, the Sbarro Jerusalem restaurant attack last year and the attack on the Emanuel settlement in December.

Posted by David Melle
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