Gunman Who Killed Two Israeli Soldiers is Described by the IDF As Deserter from the Jordanian Army

The infiltrator who killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded two others in a Jordan Valley ambush in the West Bank yesterday was a deserter from the Jordanian army, Israel Defense Force sources said today.

The infiltrator, himself gunned down by Israeli reinforcements, was identified by documents on his body as Nasser Ibrahim Abdel Aziz, 20. The IDF disclosed that two other Jordan army deserters were arrested in the West Bank three weeks ago after they crossed the Jordan River to seek sanctuary in the Israel-held territory.

Both were arrested in Nablus. One, a West Bank resident, allegedly was involved in the stabbing of an Israeli about six months ago. He fled to Jordan, joined the army there but subsequently deserted and returned home. It remains unclear whether the deserter in yesterday’s clash was escaping from the Jordanian army and engaged in a firefight with an Israeli patrol near Mehola to avoid detection or whether his intention was to attack IDF units.

According to some theories, he may have gone berserk, as Egyptian soldier Sulieman Khatar allegedly did when he machinegunned Israeli tourists at Ras Burka in eastern Sinai last October 5, killing seven. Other sources suggest the infiltrator was on a sabotage mission or that he might have precipitated a clash with the IDF to derail chances for peace talks between Israel and Jordan.

DISCOUNT OFFICIAL JORDANIAN ROLE

Israeli military sources strongly discount the possibility that the deserter was aided or abetted by Jordanian authorities or that he infiltrated the West Bank with their knowledge. The sources stressed that for years Jordan has tried to block terrorist infiltration from Jordanian soil in order to avoid friction with Israel.

Senior IDF officers said they do not believe yesterday’s incident signified a change in Jordanian policy. They seemed to regard it as an isolated event, though the exact circumstances are still not clear.

Chief of Staff Gen. Moshe Levy said last night there was no connection between the Jordan Valley clash at dawn yesterday and the Israel Air Force raid on Palestinian terrorist bases in south Lebanon. He said the air attack was launched shortly before the clash occurred.

Levy said, however, that the IDF would continue its routine patrols along Israel’s borders, including the road that parallels the Jordan River.

Premier Shimon Peres, who returned last night from a 12-day visit to Europe, told reporters that the Jordan Valley clash and the air attack in south Lebanon would not affect the peace process with Jordan. “I don’t think it has affected the peace process at all because the Israeli position is well known. While we try to achieve peace we shall continue to fight against terrorism,” he said.

He added, “Whoever wants Israel to stop fighting terrorism should stop terrorism. But as long as there are acts of terrorism, we will take the necessary measures to prevent it, to stop it and to punish it.”