Posted on 04/26/2004 12:47:55 PM PDT by knighthawk
JERUSALEM: On a day of remembrance for Israel's fallen soldiers yesterday, Israeli Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon warned the army would continue to assassinate leaders of radical Palestinian movements.
"Pre-emptive strikes will continue because they undeniably weaken terrorist organisations," General Yaalon told public radio in an interview marking Israel's Remembrance Day. But he admitted the killing of militant Palestinian leaders did "not immediately dent the motivation" of radical organisations and risked fanning the flames of violence through retaliatory attacks.
The speech came as Palestinian fighters fired on a military vehicle in the southern West Bank near Hebron yesterday, killing an Israeli border guard and wounding three others, military officials said.
"Even on the solemn even ing when we remember Israel's fallen, we received yet another vivid reminder of the total dedication of Palestinian terrorists striking at Israelis at every opportunity and in every place," said David Baker, an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said.
The shooting was claimed by a caller saying he was from the Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi unit of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
Militant Palestinian groups have vowed to avenge Israel's two most spectacular killings since the start of the targeted assassinations three years ago.
Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed in a March 22 air raid on Gaza City, and his successor Abdel Aziz Rantissi was slain in a similar hit on April 17.
Since the start of the intifada in September 2000, more than 130 Palestinian militants have been killed in Israeli army targeted attacks, which left at least another hundred Palestinians dead.
Over the weekend, Mr Sharon received international condemnation when he said he had told US President George W. Bush Israel was no longer bound by a pledge not to attack Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
However, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and cabinet minister Gideon Ezra said yesterday Mr Sharon had no immediate plans to assassinate or expel Mr Arafat.
"The Prime Minister doesn't intend to carry out anything next week or today or tomorrow," Mr Olmert, a Sharon confidant, told Israeli army radio.
Watch out, 'Fatso.
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