Four terrorist infiltrators were killed in a brief gun-battle with Israeli forces near the Lebanese border last night. The incident, which occurred shortly after 8 p.m. local time, was part of an upsurge of terrorist activity that included a Katyusha rocket attack on the Safad area yesterday. There were no Israeli casualties in either instance.
The entire border region was alerted for possible terrorist assaults timed to coincide with the opening of the Security Council’s Middle East debate yesterday in which the Palestine Liberation Organization is participating. Extra precautionary measures were also instituted at Ben Gurion Airport.
The slain terrorists, who were first spotted by an Israeli patrol near Margalioth settlement in Upper Galilee, were carrying papers that identified them as members of an extremist gang that takes an even harder line against Israel than the PLO. They were described by security sources as three young men and one somewhat older. They were carrying arms, explosives, ammunition, knives and axes and their mission apparently was to occupy a house and seize hostages, the sources said.
The rocket attack in the Safad area may have been an attempt to divert attention from the would be saboteurs, security officials believe. The rocket attack knocked out some electric power lines causing a one-hour black-out in Safad and vicinity until the lines were repaired.
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