A large bomb exploded outside the apartment of Communications Minister David Zvi Pinkas in the early hours of this morning, causing considerable damage to property but injuring no one. The police arrested two inspects found on the scene.
The two men–Amos Kinan, 25,a member of the editorial staff of the independent newspaper Haaretz, and 29-year-old Shaltiel Ben Yair, unemployed–were arrested by policemen patrolling the area in a radio car. The policemen were stationed there because last Friday night a bomb was thrown at Minister Pinkas’ apartment, but failed to explode. When the apartment of Ben Yair was searched later, the police found some ammunition and noise bombs. They also found a man there identified as William Steiner, and detained him for questioning.
Police sources stated today that the bomb was planted by members of a Kanaanite sect, who believe in Israel’s return to the thought and customs of the ancient dwellers in the land of Israel. Both Ben Yair and Kinan are members of the Kanaanite movement. Other sources, however, believe that the bomb was placed by opponents of Minister Pinkas’ order forcing all privately-owner cars to remain idle on Saturday as an oil economy move.
The bomb which exploded was apparently attached to the handle of the door leading into the Minister’s apartment. The door was demolished and doors and windows throughout the building were smashed by the force of the blast. Furniture was destroyed in some of the apartments. Mr. Pinkas, who appeared calmer than most other people on the scene, told police that no one had knocked on the door nor attempted to gain entrance to the apartment before the bomb went off, some time after midnight.
Meanwhile, members of the Orthodox parties in Parliament, have announced their intention of demanding a debate on the attack on Mr. Pinkas, and Behor Shitreet, Minister of Police, is expected to report to the Knesset on developments. Mr. Pinkas is a leader of the Religious Bloc in the government.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
