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Hamas appoints successor to Rantisi
World Tribune ^
| 4.19.04
Posted on 04/19/2004 6:34:09 PM PDT by hope
Hamas appoints successor to Rantisi
Special to World Tribune.comMIDDLE EAST NEWSLINEMonday, April 19, 2004
GAZA CITY – Hamas has quietly appointed Mahmoud A-Zahar to head the movement in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas sources said Mahmoud A-Zahar, 53, was selected as the organization's new head in the Gaza Strip. A-Zahar succeeds Abdul Aziz Rantisi, who was assassinated in an Israeli missile strike on Saturday.
The appointment was decided by Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Masha'al, the sources said. Masha'al, based in Damascus, became the undisputed leader of Hamas over the past month in wake of the Israeli assassination of Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin.
Hamas, on orders from Masha'al, did not announce the appointment of A-Zahar. The sources said the appointment was kept secret to avoid another Israeli assassination attempt.
Like Rantisi, A-Zahar has been a physician and served as the personal doctor of Yassin. For the last month, A-Zaharin served as Rantisi's deputy.
A-Zahar, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in September 2003, was described as being different from Rantisi. A-Zahar was termed a moderate in Hamas who has raised the prospect of a 10-year ceasefire with Israel.
Hamas sources said A-Zahar was one of the few political leaders left in the movement. Most of the political leadership, with access to funding abroad, was killed by Israel over the last two years. They said military leader Mohammed Deif has been recruited into the political leadership to groom him to take over the organization.
Hamas has pledged to avenge the Israeli assassination of Rantisi.
Overnight Monday, Hamas gunners fired eight Kassam-class short-range missiles and Al Bana anti-tank missiles toward Israeli targets in the Gaza Strip and inside Israel. At least one Israeli was injured.
"Hamas might have a crisis on its hands after losing its leaders," Hamas spokesman Ismail Haniyeh, expected to become A-Zahar's deputy, said. "But it will not be defeated."
Copyright © 2004 East West Services, Inc.
TOPICS: Front Page News; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: hamas; rantisi; zahar
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1
posted on
04/19/2004 6:34:11 PM PDT
by
hope
To: hope
3.....2.......1....
Who's got next ?
2
posted on
04/19/2004 6:36:16 PM PDT
by
stylin19a
(is it mogadishu yet ?)
To: hope
3.....2.......1....
Who's got next ?
3
posted on
04/19/2004 6:36:16 PM PDT
by
stylin19a
(is it mogadishu yet ?)
To: hope
This appointment happened while A-Zahar left the meeting room to make a phone call.
To: hope
Like Rantisi, A-Zahar has been a physician..Doctors who kill. I guess these guys don't take the same Hippocratic oath as the rest of the medical profession.
To: hope
"Hamas might have a crisis on its hands after losing its leaders," Hamas spokesman Ismail Haniyeh, expected to become A-Zahar's deputy, said. "But it will not be defeated."
Really, start looking for his replacement. It's Hamas season in Israel and no permits are needed and there's no limit.
To: hope
Are we placing bets yet...? :-)
To: hope
I doubt this guy is going to get any sleep at night!
8
posted on
04/19/2004 6:38:15 PM PDT
by
Arpege92
(America and Israel are two countries that were founded on the rejection of Europe. -Dr. M. Azaryahu)
To: hope
Happy happy joy joy. Let's give A-zahar a good old Israeli welcome for his soon to be short stay here on earth.
9
posted on
04/19/2004 6:39:31 PM PDT
by
BipolarBob
(Before entering the Witness Protection Program, I was John Galt. Anyone asking about me?)
To: hope
What did Mahmoud A-Zar do to piss off Khaled Masha'al?
10
posted on
04/19/2004 6:39:40 PM PDT
by
rmlew
(Peaceniks and isolationists are objectively pro-Terrorist)
To: hope
what day is it? Monday? ok - he's gonna be stirfried next wednesday (not this wednesday... wednesday-a-week), about 5am EDT
that's my bet.
11
posted on
04/19/2004 6:42:22 PM PDT
by
King Prout
(You may disagree with what I have to say... but I will defend to YOUR death MY right to say it.)
To: hope
A-Zahar was termed a moderate in Hamas who has raised the prospect of a 10-year ceasefire with Israel. This is the crux of the issue - they never give up on working for the destruction of Israel, but a 10 year period to regroup might come in useful.
To: hope
What do you suppose his life insurance premium would be?
To: hope
what day is it? Monday? ok - he's gonna be stirfried next wednesday (not this wednesday... wednesday-a-week), about 5am EDT
that's my bet.
14
posted on
04/19/2004 6:42:52 PM PDT
by
King Prout
(You may disagree with what I have to say... but I will defend to YOUR death MY right to say it.)
To: hope
Hamas, as ham, a sham, a mash, am ash
Islam, is mal, mal si, mails, a slim, i slam
15
posted on
04/19/2004 6:43:32 PM PDT
by
kcar
(Who would OBL vote for?)
To: King Prout
???????
that was freaky.
16
posted on
04/19/2004 6:43:35 PM PDT
by
King Prout
(You may disagree with what I have to say... but I will defend to YOUR death MY right to say it.)
To: hope
"I love the people . . . pull !"
17
posted on
04/19/2004 6:43:54 PM PDT
by
ChadGore
(Mach 7 !)
To: hope
I'll give it 30 days and there will be another job announcement.
18
posted on
04/19/2004 6:45:03 PM PDT
by
Democrap
(http://democrap.com)
To: hope
Cool! A fresh Hellfire Magnet!
19
posted on
04/19/2004 6:45:03 PM PDT
by
Long Cut
("Fightin's commenced, Ike, now get to fightin' or get outta the way!"...Wyatt Earp, in Tombstone)
To: hope
A tremendous honor...but not for long!
20
posted on
04/19/2004 6:46:23 PM PDT
by
Wally_Kalbacken
(Seldom right, never in doubt!)
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