JERUSALEM — Police suspect Israeli Arabs were inside two explosives-laden cars that blew up in northern Israel after a peace deal was signed with the Palestinians, security sources said Monday.
If the suspicions prove correct, it would be the first time that Arab citizens of Israel have been so directly involved in an apparent car bombing, security experts said.
Prime Minister Ehud Barak, vowing that his government would smash terrorism whether it came from inside or outside Israel, made a point of telling Israel Radio's Arabic service that the country's Arabs had proven themselves to be loyal citizens.
Police said five people had been arrested in the bombings. They were ordered held for 11 days pending an investigation.
