Israel increases security for ministers in light of Hamas threats

AP / The Jerusalem Post ^ | 10 March 2003 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Mar. 10, 2003
Israel increases security for ministers in light of Hamas threats
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Israel has increased security for Cabinet ministers after the Islamic militant group Hamas threatened to target Israeli leaders, an official said Monday.

Hamas made the threat in response to Israel's killing of a Hamas founder, Ibrahim Makadmeh, in a missile attack in Gaza over the weekend.

The helicopter strike came after Hamas killed 15 Israelis and three Americans in a bus bombing in Israel and a shooting attack on a Jewish West Bank settlement last week.

Since the outbreak of fighting in September 2000, Hamas has killed hundreds of Israelis in bombings and shootings.

In response to Makadmeh's killing, Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader, warned Sunday that Israel had "opened a new gate to violence" and that Israeli political leaders would now be targeted. "Those who are well-known have well-known addresses, whether they are official or non-official," Zahar said.

Israel has been especially sensitive to such threats since Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi was assassinated by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a radical PLO faction, in October 2001, soon after Israel killed a leader of the group. Following Zeevi's killing, security was increased for ministers and lawmakers.

Israeli security officials would not comment on reports that protection for Cabinet ministers has been beefed up.

"The whole thing is subject to intelligence alerts," said Raanan Gissin, an adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "If there are alerts, than security is increased."

However, an aide to Interior Minister Avraham Poraz confirmed that the Defense Ministry has assigned two bodyguards to Poraz, as part a general increase in security for ministers in the wake of the Hamas threat.

"Because of the threats, he (Poraz) was given a guard," said the aide, Tibi Rabinovich. "He was given one at home as well."

Security has also been beefed up in the Israeli town of Kochav Yair, which is close to the West Bank and home to several senior figures, including Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, the Yediot Ahronot newspaper reported Monday.

Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak was targeted in the past when a bomb was planted near his home in Kochav Yair.

Yediot reported that ministers have complained about insufficient security.

The daily said lawmaker Ehud Yatom of Sharon's Likud proposed that parliamentary aides be armed to protect their bosses.