Baby Dressed as a Militant Spurs Uproar
JERUSALEM — The Israeli army distributed a photograph of a wide-eyed Palestinian baby dressed like a suicide bomber--complete with a Hamas headband and what appeared to be an explosives belt--stirring anger Friday among Israelis.
The authenticity of the picture, which appeared on the front pages of several newspapers, could not be verified. But the image incensed Israelis, who have been targeted in 71 suicide bombings that have killed more than 250 Israelis in the last 21 months.
Col. Miri Eisin, a senior army intelligence analyst, said the picture of the baby, who appeared to be 12 to 18 months old, was found Tuesday in the family album of a senior Hamas militant.
Dore Gold, an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said the picture “symbolizes the incitement and hatred which the Palestinian leadership has been using to brainwash an entire generation of Palestinian children.â€
Palestinian Labor Minister Ghassan Khatib, while stating opposition to suicide bombings, said they are an “unfortunate but inevitable†result of Israeli occupation.
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