Posted on 03/23/2004 3:29:24 AM PST by Simmy2.5
JERUSALEM - Israel will try to kill the entire leadership of Hamas without waiting for another attack by the militant group, security sources said Tuesday, citing a decision made by Israeli security chiefs following the assassination of Hamas' founder.
The killing of Sheik Ahmed Yassin on Monday threatened to escalate three and a half years of Israel-Palestinian fighting. Fearing revenge attacks, Israel beefed up security throughout the country and at its missions abroad.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians thronged the streets of Gaza City for Yassin's funeral procession Monday, and Hamas threatened punishing revenge attacks against Israel. It also hinted for the first time that the United States could become a target for backing Israel.
Hamas, founded by Yassin in 1987, wants to destroy Israel and replace it with an Islamic state. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Monday that Hamas killed 377 Israelis and wounded more than 2,000 in hundreds of attacks.
Despite the outpouring of rage, Israeli security chiefs decided during a five-hour meeting Monday to step up targeted attacks, the security sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. They said officials decided to go after the entire Hamas leadership, without waiting for another attack by the militant group.
A decision in principle on targeting top Hamas officials was first made last week by Israel's Cabinet, in response to a double suicide bombing on an Israeli seaport. In Monday night's session, the security chiefs reaffirmed the direction.
Israel's army chief also suggested Tuesday that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah could eventually be assassinated by Israel.
"I think that their (Arafat's and Nasrallah's) responses yesterday show that they understand that it is nearing them," Yaalon said. "In the long term, I hope that this will be a sign to all those who choose to hurt us that this will be their end," Yaalon said.
Arafat's aides said Monday that the Palestinian leader was concerned he could now be in Israel's crosshairs. It was not clear what response by Nasrallah the army chief was referring to.
Late Monday, Hamas' leaders appeared in public at a mass mourning ceremony at Gaza's Yarmouk stadium, apparently believing that they were safe in such a public setting. Hamas leaders often hide underground when tensions are high with Israel.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia headed to Gaza on Tuesday to pay his condolences to Hamas. He was to attend a ceremony at the stadium later in the day.
The Palestinian Authority (news - web sites) declared three days of mourning and stores throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip (news - web sites) were closed Tuesday. Hamas is the biggest rival to the authority, but Palestinian leaders treat the movement with respect because of its popularity.
Security chiefs are closely watching to see who fills the political vacuum caused by Yassin's death. At least initially, hardliner Abdel Aziz Rantisi, has emerged as a Hamas strongman. Rantisi, a 54-year-old pediatrician who escaped an Israeli assassination attempt last June, opposes even a temporary truce with Israel.
Ismail Hanieh, a top Yassin aide, said Hamas took a blow to morale, but would continue carrying out attacks on Israel. "Sheik Yassin's death is not going to harm or affect the movement. It's going to give us encouragement to go ahead with our program to achieve our goal," Hanieh said.
In the meantime, Israel has increased security both at home and abroad. Jerusalem's usually lively streets were mostly empty Monday night, due to fears of a Hamas attack. Buses remained empty on Tuesday.
Checkpoints were set up around major cities, and police were visible on city streets Tuesday. Tel Aviv police commander Yossi Sedbon told Army Radio on Tuesday that he expects the alert level to remain high for at least a month.
A closure preventing Palestinians from entering Israel from the West Bank and Gaza remained in effect, and the army increased forces throughout the Palestinian areas, officials said. Five Palestinians died in violence following Yassin's killing Monday; only minor stone-throwing clashes in the West Bank were reported Tuesday.
Troops were prepared for a variety of scenarios, including kidnappings and attacks on army bases and Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, the officials said. Security also was beefed up for military and political leaders.
Forces increased security along the northern border with Lebanon in fear of a Hezbollah attack. The Lebanese guerrilla group fired anti-tank missiles and artillery rounds at Israeli troops late Monday, drawing Israeli return fire. No casualties were reported.
Outside the country, Israel stepped up security at embassies, consulates and other official offices. Israeli officials also advised various Jewish centers around the world to take precautions. Israel fears that groups operating abroad, like Hezbollah or al-Qaida, might strike to show solidarity with Hamas, the officials said.
The assassination, which killed seven other people, received large support in Israel, despite the belief that it will spark more violence. The Yediot Ahronot daily published a poll showing 60 percent of Israelis that killing Yassin was the right thing to do, while 32 percent thought it was wrong.
On the other hand, 81 percent of Israelis believe the assassination will lead to an increase in militant attacks, while 15 percent think it will have no impact and only three percent think it will lead to a decrease. The Dahaf poll had a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
"No one in the system, not even Sharon, believes that the assassination of the sheik will reduce the scope of terror. There is no strategy here: just bitter frustration and mounting difficulty to look the voters in the eye," wrote Yediot columnist Nahum Barnea.
Israeli media reported Tuesday that Avi Dichter, the director of Israel's Shin Bet internal security service, had opposed Monday's airstrike.
The Maariv daily said Dichter favors waiting for Hamas leaders to gather together and killing them in one blow. It said he is concerned about revenge attacks each time a Hamas leader is targeted.
The attack drew widespread condemnation from Arab and European governments. The United States, Israel's closest ally, said it was "deeply troubled" by the assassination and urged restraint.
The killing was part of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites)'s effort to crush Hamas ahead of a possible Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, the killing was seen as a huge gamble that could galvanize the Palestinians behind Israel's arch-foe Hamas.
The missile strike dealt also what could be the final blow to the stalled U.S.-led "road map" peace plan. It also angered Egypt and Jordan, two moderate Arab states whose tacit support Sharon needs for any unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.
A team of top Israeli officials, including Sharon's bureau chief Dov Weisglass and National Security chief Giora Eiland, were headed to Washington on Tuesday to discuss the withdrawal plan with American officials.
I think they have no choice but to do so, now. It's about time.
I hope it becomes the de facto way to treat terrorists. I'm wondering why Saddam is still alive, as a matter of fact.
Methinks they are chickens!
Absolutely true, and Memri and the Arab press make this clear ona daily basis. The entire Arab/Muslim worldview is colored by their seething hatred for Israel and their desire to "kill the Jews."
One would think that the global powers or the U.N. (hah) or someone would stand up ona regular basis and tell the Arabs/Muslims that Israel is a recognized state and that the world will no longer brook the ideas and actions that are spawned by their hatred. But that's of course asking too much.
So in the end it will really take some devastating actions against the Palis, the Arabs, and the Muslims to get them to accept the world as it is and to move on.
In the long run it'll be good for 'em, they've been bogged-down in hatred for decades now.
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