Explosive-laden truck explodes at Erez Crossing; no Israeli casualties
Foreign Ministry - 22 May 2008

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew up an explosives-laden truck on the
Palestinian side of the Erez Crossing on the Israel-Gaza Strip border early
Thursday morning (22 May). The driver was the only casualty in the attempted
attack.

At a meeting with French FM Bernard Kouchner, Israeli FM Tzipi Livni said,
"The attempted attack this morning at Erez Crossing Point should demonstrate
to the international community that, while it demands that Israel take care
of the situation in Gaza and open the crossing points, Hamas, which controls
Gaza, is not interested in improving the lives of the population and doesn't
take even minimal responsibility for Gazan residents. The international
community must continue to delegitimize Hamas and to support the peace
process taking place with pragmatic elements."

A Palestinian bomber from Gaza blew up an explosives-laden truck on the
Palestinian side of the Erez Crossing on the Israel-Gaza Strip border early
Thursday morning. The driver was the only casualty in the attempted attack.
As the truck approached the border, other terrorists fired mortar shells at
the crossing.

The explosion ripped a hole in a pedestrian passageway leading out of the
Erez terminal and into Gaza, which was empty because of the early hour (6:45
am).

Shortly after the explosion, an IAF helicopter fired a missile at a nearby
jeep which was accompanying the exploding truck, killing one of the
terrorists who apparently planned to use the jeep to kidnap soldiers or to
penetrate across the border after the explosion. A number of homes in the
Israeli community of Netiv Ha'asara were damaged as a result of the
explosion.

IDF: "The soldiers' deployment, readiness and conduct prevented a more
severe attack."
The Erez crossing will be closed until the damage can be repaired.