DJ US Ridge: Would Have To Take Any Hamas Threat Seriously
WASHINGTON (AP)--U.S. Homeland Security Tom Ridge said Monday Hamas was a terrorist organization and if it threatened the U.S. or "our interests, either abroad or domestically, we have to take the threat seriously."
Ridge made the comment in a meeting with reporters in Washington.
A statement from Hamas threatened retaliation against the U.S. after Israel killed Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the founder of the group.
"The Zionists didn't carry out their operation without getting the consent of the terrorist American administration and it (the United States) must take responsibility for this crime," Hamas said in a statement. "All the Muslims of the world will be honored to join in on the retaliation for this crime."
In the past, Hamas has refrained from targeting U.S. citizens or interests, instead focusing on fund-raising and recruitment within the U.S., according to senior U.S. law enforcement officials.
For the first time Monday, Hamas threatened the United States and suggested it might seek outside help in carrying out revenge attacks.
"The Zionists didn't carry out their operation without getting the consent of the terrorist American administration and it (the United States) must take responsibility for this crime," Hamas said in a statement. "All the Muslims of the world will be honored to join in on the retaliation for this crime."
In the past, Hamas has refrained from targeting U.S. citizens or interests, instead focusing on fund-raising and recruitment within the United States, according to senior U.S. law enforcement officials.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge was heeding the Hamas terror warning. "If they are threatening the United States, we have to take it quite seriously," he told reporters in Washington.
While not condemning the assassination, the State Department said it increases tensions and would make it harder to pursue peace in the Middle East. "We are troubled," spokesman Richard Boucher said.
President Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, told NBC that "it is very important that everyone step back and try now to be calm in the region."
But Israel said it will press ahead with more targeted attacks and raids.
"The war against terror has not ended and will continue day after day, everywhere," Sharon said. He called Yassin the "mastermind of Palestinian terror" and a "mass murderer who is among Israel's greatest enemies."
More than 200,000 Palestinians, some carrying billowing green Hamas flags, poured into the streets of Gaza City for Yassin's funeral procession, the largest gathering here in recent memory. Tens of thousands of furious Palestinians rallied across the West Bank.....