The Israeli internet news service DEBKAfile has noted an obvious similarity between the methods used in the suicide bombing of 27 March 2002 in Netanya and on 7 May 2002 in the Sheffield Club in Rishon Letzion. In both cases the bombers arrived carrying a suitcase containing explosives, went to the middle of the hall and detonated the bomb.
The Sheffield Club wasn't just a pool hall but mainly an illegal casino on the third floor of a building in Rishon Letzion's industrial zone. Hundreds came there at all hours of the day or night and the club was owned by criminals, being part of a large network of similar illegal operations.
It is very clear that the bomber was not only well informed about the casino but, thanks to loopholes in Israeli censorship, it has become evident that he was also recognized by the club's regular customers and staff!
The official version is that there was no guard at the entrance, which isn't very convincing, as this illegal casino had been raided again and again by the police and there was for sure somebody watching out and not everybody was allowed to enter without restriction.
The police says that it is fighting a hopeless battle against these and other similar institutions all over the country, which are owned by five to six underworld families. The mayor of Rishon Letzion, Meir Nitzan, commented on the futile struggle against the illegal gambling operation: "Even if people committed many kind of crimes, they shouldn't get a death penalty for that."
He added. "I believe that the bomber knew very well the place and didn't enter the club incidentally. I don't want to add anything on that at the moment." According to Nitzan, the bomber was known at the club,
If the suicide bomber was an Arab, he could hardly be a member of a radical Islamic movement, who are not allowed to gamble or drink alcohol. The Palestinians who frequented this casino were either rich businessmen from Ramallah or Arab citizens of Israel. No Gazans are known to visit the Sheffield Club!
It is important to note in this connection that the radical Islamist Hamas movement hasn't yet confirmed officially its responsibility for the bombing.
DEBKAfile wishes to see Muhammad Dahlan behind the bombing, but it doesn't sound very convincing. Why should Dahlan give Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a pretext to leave Washington so urgently? As a reaction to this bombing, even a limited operation in Gaza would now increase Sharon's chances of winning the uncomfortable Likud convention this coming Sunday, 12 May. It'll also enable the Israeli military junta to escalate its measures against the Palestinians.
Still, the most plausible explanations for the bombing in Rishon Letzion are: either it was part of a feud between some mafia clans or the Israeli authorities are involved.
The likelihood of the second possibility is somewhat higher. This "conspiracy theory" is supported by the similarities between the methods used in the Rishon bombing and Netanya bombing, which, as the Israeli paper Ha'modia reported, the Israeli "security" services did nothing to prevent, even though they were informed about it. Also, the timing of the Rishon bombing was just too convenient for Sharon.
In addition to these circumstance, the Israeli police efforts against gambling have to be considered. Gambling is an Israeli national disease affecting hundreds of thousands. Taking into account the special Israeli psychosis, it can be expected that the illegal casinos would be now frequented less. As a result of the unique propagandistic death rituals for victims of Arab attacks (alleged and real ones), the Israeli public overreact in this sphere, while practically disregarding a much stronger threat like road accidents*.
* Shraga Elam is an Israeli investigative journalist based in Zurich and author of a highly-praised book in German on the collaboration of the Zionist leadership with the Nazis. The book, Hitlers Faelscher: wie juedische amerikanische und Schweizer Agenten der SS beim Falschgeldwaschen halfen [Hitler's Forgers: How Jewish, American and Swiss agents helped the SS with laundering faked money], is published by Uberreuter Verlag and can be purchased here.
** According to official Israeli figures, from the beginning of the second intifadah on 29 September 2000 till 7 May 2002, 334 Israeli civilians were killed and 2,759 injured. In 2000 alone, 461 persons were killed in road accidents and 39,817 were injured. In 2001, 537 were killed in road accidents and 36,340 injured. During the first three months of this year, 104 died and 8,396 were injured because of road accidents. The bottom line of these macabre statistics is that, if you are an Israeli, your chances of getting killed or injured through a road accident are much higher than through a Palestinian attack. Still, not many inhabitants of that country abstain from driving a car - if they can afford one.