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{{Infobox terrorist attack
|title=Eilat bakery bombing
|image=
|caption=
|map=<div style="width:250px; float:none; clear:none;"><div style="position:relative; padding:0; width:250px;">[[File:Israel outline negev mt.png|250px]]
<br /><div style="position: absolute; z-index: 2; top: 93.7%; left: 74.2%; height: 0; width: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"><div style="position: relative; text-align: center; left: -4px; top: -4px; width: 8px; font-size: 8px; z-index:100;">[[File:Red pog.svg|7px]]</div><div style="font-size:90%; line-height: 110%; z-index:90; position: relative; top: -1.5em; width: 6em; left: 0.5em; text-align: left;"><span style="padding: 1px;">The attack site</span></div></div></div></div>
| coordinates = {{coord|29|33|35|N|34|56|43|E|display=inline}}
|location=[[Eilat]], [[Israel]]
|target=
|date=29 January 2007
|time-begin=
|time-end=
|timezone=
|type=[[suicide attack]]
|fatalities=3 civilians (+ 1 bomber)
|injuries=
|perps=[[al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]]<br/>[[Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine|Islamic Jihad]]<br/>Islamic Brigade
}}

The ''' Eilat bakery bombing''' occurred on 29 January 2007 when a [[Palestinian militant|Palestinian]] [[suicide bomber]] from the [[Gaza Strip]] infiltrated the northern suburbs of [[Eilat]], [[Israel]]. Upon seeing the [[Israel Police|police]] approaching, he entered a neighbourhood bakery and detonated his bomb, killing three people: the bakery's co-owners and an employee.<ref name=time>{{cite news|last=McGirk|first=Tim|title=Terror Returns to Israel|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1583096,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202021421/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1583096,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2007|access-date=17 November 2012|newspaper=Time|date=29 January 2007|location=Jerusalem}}</ref>

In the midst of [[Palestinian factional violence]], both the [[Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine|Islamic Jihad]] and the [[Fatah]]-affiliated [[al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] claimed joint responsibility.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/29/world/middleeast/29cnd-mideast.html?hp&ex=1170133200&en=672e889f68796e72&ei=5094&partner=homepage ''Suicide Bomb Kills 3 in Bakery in Israel''] - The New York Times, 29 January 2007</ref><ref name=wp29107>{{cite news|first=Rami|last=Amichar|title=Suicide bomber kills 3 in Israel's Eilat resort|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/29/AR2007012900939.html|access-date=17 May 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=29 January 2007}}</ref> A third Palestinian group called the Islamic Brigade which was not known also claimed responsibility for the attack along with the other two mentioned above.<ref name=bbc/>

==Background==
The suicide bomber was 21-year-old Muhammad Faisal al-Saqsaq of [[Beit Lahia]], [[Gaza Strip]]. He had previously fought against Israeli troops in [[Jabalia]] and [[Beit Hanoun]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/11347/mid/436/dnnprintmode/true/Default.aspx?SkinSrc=%5BG%5DSkins%2F_default%2FNo+Skin&ContainerSrc=%5BG%5DContainers%2F_default%2FNo+Container |title=Family of suicide bomber consider him a hero |newspaper=Israel Today}}</ref>

According to the [[Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine|Islamic Jihad]], Saqsaq initially set out from the [[West Bank]], and later on was smuggled into [[Jordan]]. From there he reached Eilat and was given the explosives by militants waiting for him there, after going through seven months of preparations.

Israeli Internal Security Minister [[Avi Dichter]] stated that the bomber infiltrated Israel from [[Egypt]], echoing conclusions of the other intelligence agencies.<ref>[https://www.upi.com/Suicide-bomber-kills-three-in-Israel/21531170103436/ ''Suicide bomber kills three in Israel''] - United Press International, 29 January 2007</ref> Israel stated that the suicide bomber had infiltrated through the 220 kilometer Israeli-Egyptian border which is fenceless and patrolled by minimal [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] and [[Israel Border Police|Border Police]] forces. The suicide bomber possibly entered Egypt through a tunnel across the [[Philadelphi Corridor]], and was then driven to the Egyptian/Israeli border, which he crossed on foot some 30 km from Eilat.

==The attack==
After infiltrating Israel on 29 January 2007, Saqsaq made his way to Eilat, and when he was in the Simchon neighborhood, he hitched with an Israeli man who was senior officer in the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] reserves, [[Lieutenant Colonel|Lt. Col.]] Yossi Waltinsky. Waltinsky stated later on in an interview with [[Channel 10 (Israel)|Channel 10]] that he had suspected the hitchhiker was up to something, mainly due to his suspicious heavy clothing and lack of knowledge of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], nevertheless, he was not able do anything at that point until the suspicious passenger was out of his car. Waltinsky dropped the passenger off near a gas station, about a kilometer from where the attack took place. He immediately phoned the local police station, explaining his encounter and telling the police he believed the man was a terrorist. The call was made seven minutes before the attack came.<ref name=warned>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/eilat-driver-warned-police-about-terrorist-minutes-before-attack-1.185514|title=Eilat driver warned police about terrorist minutes before attack|newspaper=Haaretz|date=17 April 2006}}</ref>

Upon receiving Waltinsky's call, two patrol cars were dispatched to investigate. Meanwhile, Saqsaq, who wore a long black winter coat on a warm sunny day, soon approached a small bakery. The local police later on stated that the suicide bomber was carrying the bomb in a backbag rather than an explosives belt.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|title=Three dead in Israel suicide bomb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6309029.stm|access-date=17 November 2012|publisher=BBC|date=29 January 2007}}</ref>

Saqsaq apparently only stopped at the bakery for coffee, and planned to proceed to a final destination to detonate the bomb, but when he saw the police approaching, he detonated the bomb in the bakery.

This was Eilat's first suicide bombing, and the [[List of massacres committed during the Al-Aqsa Intifada|first attack]] to succeed against Israel since 17 April 2006 (others had been attempted, but thwarted by Israeli security forces).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=49624|title=Peretz orders IDF to prepare for operations in Gaza |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=29 January 2007}}</ref> Although it was the first suicide bomb to hit the city which is a quiet [[Red Sea]] holiday resort,<ref name=sky>{{cite news|title=Bomber Strikes Israel Holiday Resort |url=http://news.sky.com/story/485093/bomber-strikes-israel-holiday-resort |access-date=17 November 2012 |publisher=Sky News|date=29 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018083206/http://news.sky.com/story/485093/bomber-strikes-israel-holiday-resort |archive-date=18 October 2012}}</ref> through the years there have been other acts of terror committed near Eilat.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/819130.html|title=Past terror attacks in the Eilat area|newspaper=Haaretz |date=29 January 2007}}</ref>

==The perpetrators==
[[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]] claimed responsibility for the attack, together with two other [[terrorist]] groups.<ref name=warned /><ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/israel_explosion ''Suicide bomber kills 3 at Israeli bakery''] - AP, 29 January 2007</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=819038 |title=EU slams Eilat bombing, calls it bid to derail peace process |newspaper=Haaretz |date=29 January 2007}}</ref> The bomber was identified as 21-year-old Muhammad Faisal al-Siksik from northern Gaza. Al-Siksik's family noted that he was missing for three days, but they knew he was going on a suicide bombing mission.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/world/middleeast/30mideast.html ''Suicide Attack Is First in Israel in 9 Months''] - The New York Times, 30 January 2007</ref>

==Aftermath==
A large crowd gathered outside the bomber's home to praise the attack. "Mohammed be happy. You will go directly to heaven," the crowd chanted, while children held pictures of the bomber. He looked pensive in one image, and held a machine gun in another.<ref>[http://www.nysun.com/foreign/suicide-bomber-kills-three-in-southern-israeli/47598/ Suicide Bomber Kills Three in Southern Israeli Resort Town], [[The New York Sun]], 29 January 2007</ref>

==Government reactions==
;International
* {{Flagu|Germany}}: [[Germany]], then-holder of the [[European Union]] presidency,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eu2007.de/en/The_Council_Presidency/index.html |title=EU 2007.de - The Council Presidency |access-date=1 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104090035/http://www.eu2007.de/en/The_Council_Presidency/index.html |archive-date=4 January 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> condemned the attack "in the strongest terms." An EU presidency statement said Germany "urges the Palestinian leadership to do everything in its power to put an end to terror and bring to justice those who support terror."<ref>[http://www.eu2007.de/en/News/CFSP_Statements/January/0129Eilat.html ''EU Presidency Statement on the suicide bombing in Eilat in Israel''] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120903171226/http://www.eu2007.de/en/News/CFSP_Statements/January/0129Eilat.html |date=3 September 2012 }} - EU2007.de, CFSP Statements, 29 January 2007</ref>
* {{Flagu|Jordan}}: [[Abdullah II of Jordan|King Abdullah]] condemned the bombing, saying in a statement that "such attacks will only increase the sufferings of the Palestinians."<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/819148.html ''EU, U.S. slam Eilat bombing''] - Haaretz.com</ref>
* {{Flagu|Sweden}}: [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]] [[Carl Bildt]] said, "I condemn today's terrorist attack in Eilat, Israel. Violence that targets civilians is totally unacceptable. [...] The infighting among Palestinian groups is claiming more and more victims. Palestinian leaders must therefore take their responsibility and quickly find a way to resolve the crisis using peaceful means."<ref>{{cite press release |title=Carl Bildt condemns terrorist attack in Eilat |publisher=[[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)]] |date=2007-01-29 |url=http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/8558/a/75954 |access-date=2007-02-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070326193228/http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/8558/a/75954 |archive-date=26 March 2007}}</ref>
* {{Flagu|United Kingdom}}: [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]] [[Margaret Beckett]] said, "We utterly condemn this morning's suicide attack in Eilat. There can be no justification for such attacks."<ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/200701/30/eng20070130_345893.html ''Britain condemns Israeli suicide bombing''] - Xinhua, 30 January 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1036414846587&a=KArticle&aid=1170062378175 ''BECKETT CONDEMNS SUICIDE BOMBING IN ISRAEL''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090815/http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1036414846587&a=KArticle&aid=1170062378175 |date=29 September 2007 }} - Foreign Policy News British Embassy Oslo, 29 January 2007</ref>
* {{Flagu|United States}}: [[White House]] spokesman [[Tony Snow]] said the responsibility of the bombing lies with the [[Palestinian Authority]] government. He added, "Failure to act against terror will inevitably affect relations between that government and the international community and undermine the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own."<ref>[http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2007-01-29T133456Z_01_N29230620_RTRUKOC_0_US-ISRAEL-EXPLOSION-USA.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C3-politicsNews-2 ''White House condemns bombing in Israel's Eilat''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219221023/http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews |date=19 February 2007 }} - Reuters, 29 January 2007</ref>

==See also==
*[[Heth route]]
*[[List of Palestinian Islamic Jihad suicide attacks]]
*[[Palestinian political violence]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Terrorist attacks against Israelis in the 2000s}}
{{Palestinian militancy attacks in the 2000s}}

[[Category:Suicide bombings in 2007]]
[[Category:Attacks on bakeries]]
[[Category:History of Eilat]]
[[Category:Murder in 2007]]
[[Category:Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine]]
[[Category:Suicide bombing in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Israel in 2007]]
[[Category:Palestinian terrorism]]
[[Category:Terrorist attacks attributed to Palestinian militant groups]]
[[Category:January 2007 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Building bombings in Israel]]

Eilat bakery bombing - Revision history

->GreenC bot at 22:44, 21 July 2021