Hamas appoints successor to Rantisi

World Tribune ^ | 4.19.04

[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."

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Copyright © 2004 East West Services, Inc.

[blastdad51]

"The sources said the appointment was kept secret to avoid another Israeli assassination attempt."

Are those guys good at keeping a secret or what?!!!!

[dirtbiker]

Put me down for $5 for May 1st.....

[Crazieman]

[Dan from Michigan]

Ready! Aim! FIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRE!!!!

Time to off another one.

[dirtbiker]

The medallion is too low. Or maybe not.......

[GeronL]

Mahmoud A-Zahar

Bye Bye Mahmoud A-Zahar

(Thats about the same thing I posted when Rantisi was appointed)

[MediaMole]

From Haaretz

In principle, Dr. Mahmoud a-Zahar, who was considered Rantisi's deputy, is supposed to head the organization. However, Israeli intelligence officials have learned that a-Zahar has sent signals to fellow Hamas leaders both in Gaza and overseas, particularly Khaled Mashal, that he does not want the top post, and certainly does not want it to be made public.

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Funny how these guys are willing to send kids to certain death, but personally want to live.

[GeronL]

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.

You'll have to be more specific.

Will he be driving or riding a car? Will it be an Apache helicopter and a Hellfire missile??

LOL

[adam_az]

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.

Some quotes from "moderate" Zahar...

"I'm telling you frankly, the attitude of Islam is nsome ot to accept a foreign state in this area." (5/22/03 BBC interview)

"Sharon and Bush will see more blood coming from their noses in Palestine and Iraq," (17 April 2004)

"We are coming. We have accepted the challenge. We are coming to Tel Aviv. We are coming to every place in Palestine to purify it from the Jews." (New York Times, Oct. 28, 2000.)

Israel has also targeted, but failed to kill Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar. (Sept. 10, 2003.) Before the attack on al-Zahar, he was quoted in the New York Times praising the March 2002 Passover attacks against Israel:
< “Forty were killed and 200 injured — in just two operations,”al-Zahar said with a smile.” (April 4, 2002.)
Al-Zahar once explained to the BBC that “all Israelis are militants ... [there are] no civilian Israelis.” (Oct 3, 2001)

[armyboy]

3-1 odds he won't last 2 weeks.

[hope]

LOL!

[King Prout]

c'mon, gimme a break here!
my demonstrated forte is predicting earthquakes in Japan, not Shiites hitting the fan.

[randog]

What do you suppose his life insurance premium would be?

Smart money says he never makes it past the 90-day probation period to get his Hamas^TM Corporation Comprehensive Benefits and Profit Sharing Package.