`Jewish terrorists` attack prominent left-wing historian

Jerusalem, Sep 26 (PTI) In a stark reminder of growing
differences within the Israeli society, a prominent left-wing
historian was injured in a suspected right-wing perpetrated
bomb attack.

Internationally acclaimed expert on History of Fascism,
Zeev Sternhell, sustained minor injuries on Wednesday when a
pipe-bomb exploded outside his house in Jerusalem in what
police suspect could be a new campaign by right-wing
extremists to target prominent left-wingers.

Public Security Minister Avi Dichter called the incident
"a nationalist terror attack apparently perpetrated by
Jews", vowing that the police would not rest until "those
terrorists" were put behind bars.

"We could see that the explosion was aimed at killing,"
Dichter said adding that the attack "takes us back to the days
of [Prime Minister Yitzhak] Rabin's assassination."

Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing activist opposing
the peace process with Palestinians.

Professor Sternhell walked out of his house in a quiet
Jerusalem neighbourhood shortly after midnight to shut a
courtyard gate when the bomb went off, lightly wounding him in
one leg, Jerusalem Police Spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said.

The police on Wednesday found fliers on the streets of
Jerusalem offering about USD 3 lakh to anyone who kills
members of Peace Now, a left-wing non-governmental
organisation in Israel.

This has led to suspicions that 'Jewish terrorists' were
behind the pipe-bomb attack because of Sternhell's harsh
criticism of West Bank settlers and harassment of
Palestinians.

The police has stressed that the bomb was not meant to
intimidate but was a murder attempt, daily Ha'aretz reported.

Following the attack, the police has beefed up security
around Peace Now head Yariv Oppenheimer's house.

"If this was not an act committed by a deranged person
but by someone who represents a political view, then it is the
beginning of disintegration of democracy," Sternhell was
quoted as saying by daily Ha'aretz from hospital.

"The incident illustrates the fragility of Israeli
democracy, and the urgent need to defend it", Sternhell said.

Prime Minister designate, Tzipi Livni, also condemned
the attack saying it was "intolerable, and cannot be glossed
over."

"Israel is a lawful state and is populated by a society
with values. It is the responsibility of the government and
Israeli society to renounce such phenomena as soon as they
rear their heads," Livni said.