A family of Jewish settlers in the West Bank escaped injury last night when their car triggered a roadside bomb in the Hebron area. The device was similar to those employed against the Israel Defense Force in south Lebanon but the incident was the first of its kind in the West Bank.
Security forces found a leaflet near the site of the explosion signed by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a terrorist organization led by Nayef Hawatmeh It said the bomb was planted in reprisal for the forced closure of Arab shops in Hebron by the Israeli authorities.
The incident occurred at about midnight when a family of four was returning from a Purim party to their home in Moshav Beit Hagai in the southern Hebron hills. The car apparently tripped a wire that touched off an explosive charge. The driver, Haim Didovsky, said, “We thought a hand grenade or Molotov cocktail was thrown at us. The explosion was loud. “He said he remained calm and continued to drive at high speed, stopping several meters down the road. He then fired into the air to summon help. Security forces rushed to the scene and began a large-scale manhunt.
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