Bomb Explosion in Tel Aviv Suburb Attributed to Underworld Elements

A bomb explosion that severely damaged a villa in the wealthy suburb of Zahala before dawn today was attributed to underworld elements by Tel Aviv Mayor Shlomo Lehat. Lehat, who lives in the suburb, said the bomb was apparently intended for him but the perpetrators planted it by mistake at the nearby home of another Shlomo Lehat, an industrialist and former army colonel who is presently visiting Belgium as the head of an Israeli trade delegation.

The bomb blew a large hole in the wall of the villa and smashed most of the windows. No one was injured. Lehat expressed regret that an innocent party should have been the victim of what he described as an underworld “contract” bombing. The Israel Radio reported receiving an anonymous telephone call that the bomb was meant for the Mayor’s house. Some sources believe it may have been in retaliation for the Mayor’s recent orders to demolish any buildings erected without a municipal license. City workers were sent to repair the damage.

STAGE A MEDIA EVENT

Meanwhile, a group of slum dwellers in Tel Aviv adopted a tactic used by West Bank Arabs recently to stage a media event to call attention

The residents were protesting their forced relocation to make room for a development project near the Tel Aviv University campus. Most of their neighbors had agreed to accept new flats and some financial compensation. But the occupants of three flats slated for demolition held out for better offers and were joined by several hundred other slum-dwellers in their demonstration. A satisfactory settlement was reached with the municipal authorities–but not before the TV cameras rolled.