Meet Hamas

[Timber Loftis]

Hamas Says It Will Target Sharon, but Not U.S.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: March 24, 2004
Filed at 11:44 a.m. ET

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- The new Hamas leader in Gaza said Wednesday the militant group had no plans to attack U.S. targets, while another top official in the organization said it has targeted Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for death.

The Islamic group had made veiled threats it would retaliate against the United States for Israel's assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin on Monday, but it has rarely attacked American targets during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Fearing retaliation, Israel has gone on high alert since Yassin's death, and troops south of the West Bank city of Nablus stopped a 16-year-old Palestinian boy wearing a suicide bomb vest from crossing through a checkpoint. Soldiers forced the boy, Hussam Abdo, to remove the explosives-packed vest and strip to his underwear.

The army said its experts later detonated the bomb.

It was unclear whether he was sent as a suicide bomber or as a courier trying to smuggle the bomb through the checkpoint. His neighbors in Nablus identified him as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine militant group.

Israeli troops also entered a village near the northern West Bank town of Jenin, witnesses said, and gunfire was heard in the area. The village was put under curfew and tanks were outside it, the witnesses said.

Israeli military officials confirmed that forces entered the village of Yamoun after being shot at. The soldiers returned fire and chased the gunmen into the village, the officials said on condition of anonymity.

Army tanks later surrounded the village, which was put under curfew, witnesses said. Residents reportedly threw stones at the soldiers.

Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a hard-liner named Tuesday as Hamas' new Gaza chief, said the group's militant activities were aimed solely at Israel, which it has pledged to destroy and replace with an Islamic state.

``We are inside Palestinian land and acting only inside Palestinian land. We are resisting the occupation, nothing else,'' Rantisi told reporters in Gaza. ``Our resistance will continue just inside our border, here inside our country.''

Rantisi denied reports that Hamas would join with al-Qaida, calling the claims ``Zionist propaganda.''

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Wednesday he opposed ``any attack on civilians, whether they were Israel or Palestinian.''

The State Department on Tuesday repeated a long-standing warning urging Americans not to travel to the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, meanwhile, overall Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who is based in Damascus, Syria, said the group's military wing would assess its abilities to kill Sharon.

``I hope that the holy warriors can retaliate against this awful crime by targeting the most prominent Zionist leaders ... including Sharon,'' Mashaal said in an interview posted on a Hamas Web site. ``I hope they can succeed.''

For its part, Israel has decided to target the entire Hamas leadership. Israel says Hamas has killed 377 Israelis in hundreds of attacks, including 52 suicide bombings, over the past three and a half years.

Rantisi, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in June, said Wednesday he was not concerned.

``It's death by killing or cancer,'' said Rantisi, a trained physician. ``If it's cardiac arrest or an Apache (helicopter), I prefer to be killed by an Apache.''

Rantisi, 54, has appeared in public frequently since Yassin's death, but always in large crowds that deter an Israeli attack.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians at a Gaza City soccer stadium cheered the announcement Tuesday night that Rantisi had been chosen leader. One by one, senior Hamas officials got up and swore loyalty to him.

Rantisi rejects even a temporary suspension of attacks on Israel.

He led about 1,000 people in noon prayers Wednesday at the stadium, where Hamas has organized mourning for Yassin. As he spoke to reporters afterward, he was surrounded by about 25 youths wearing green Hamas bandanas.

Several hundred women, many wearing Hamas headbands, gathered in a mourning tent near Yassin's home in a run-down Gaza City neighborhood and chanted: ``Rantisi, give weapons to the women.''

Security has been stepped up throughout Israel, and malls, restaurants and buses have been empty as people remain close to home.

The Israeli military went on the offensive in Gaza and along the Lebanese border to prevent Palestinian attacks. A total of four Palestinian militants were killed in the fighting.

The army said that troops had killed two armed Palestinian militants who had tried to infiltrate the Gaza settlement of Morag late Tuesday. Troops also confiscated a bag of explosives. Hamas claimed responsibility for the failed attack.

In the Khan Younis refugee camp, forces razed four Palestinian farms, partially demolished two houses and destroyed a road linking two parts of the shantytown during an overnight raid, Palestinian officials said. Early Wednesday, the troops withdrew from the area.

The army said it had removed some brush and two abandoned buildings that were used to fire on settlements. It said troops opened fire after being attacked by an anti-tank missile and gunfire. No casualties were reported.

Late Tuesday, Israeli gunboats opened fire off the coast of Gaza, witnesses said. No one was hurt. The Israeli military said gunboats fired at a suspicious object at sea.

Around the same time, Israeli helicopters opened fire at guerrillas setting up rocket launchers aimed at Israel in south Lebanon, the military said. Lebanese officials identified them as Palestinians and said two were killed and one wounded in the airstrike.

On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry withdrew diplomats and their families from missions in the Arab countries of Qatar and Mauritania as a precaution.

[Skunk]

An UGLY AND EVIL MAN, isn't he?
Unlike his murdered predecessor, Rantisi didn't support the Oslo agreement, isn't willing to give up the right of return of refugees or put off the discussion on them and will only be happy WHEN ISRAEL CEASES TO EXIST.

As far as he is concerned, the Palestinian state should encompass the WHOLE of Israel and, unlike Yassin he isn't prepared to quit the attacks in return for Iraeli withdrawl from the occupied territories. He is the embodiement of the original murderous terrorist - and there are few people in the world that I loathe as much as him.

Upon reflection, Sharon may have had other reasons than simple political gain for the murder of Yassin.

Hamas, as you may recall, was an Israeli created organisation introduced to off-set the power base of Arafat's PLO. And for years the policy worked - the PLO and Hamas fought it out amongst themselves (weakening themselves in the process and thus diverting their attentions away from Israel). But after 1993 Yassin and Arafat came to an agreement and ended their hostilities preferring to take a more peaceful approach to the question of 'liberation'.

After the infitada began, Arafat remained opposed to suicide bombers while Yassin supported them - and while Arafat occassionaly put Yassin under 'House Arrest' as a result, the two sides remained relatively peaceful towards eachother.

With the appointment of Rantisi (who would never allow himself to be placed 'under arrest' and who scoffs at Arafat's more peaceful approach), old tensions might resurface. Maybe that is Sharon's gamble, hoping to divide his enemies and force them to turn on one another.

If so, I'm not sure that it's going to work - Arafat is in too weak a position to oppose Rantisi openly as he did with his predecessor. He lacks the security apparatus and, as a result of the manner of Yassin's murder, any action taken against Rantisi will be without the support of the populace. It would be political suicide. Consquently, Rantisi is likely to reign over terror without any worries of being hindered by Arafat.

Let's hope that Sharon doesn't kill off Arafat too - there are plenty of Rantisi charactors kept in check by Arafat who would love to have a shot at killing for the pure pleasure of the act....

[ 03-25-2004, 06:25 AM: Message edited by: Skunk ]

[johnny]

Well, if Rantisi decides to play hardball with the Israeli's (as if they weren't already), then he might just lead his people towards total annihilation. He, of all people, should know that Israel ALWAYS strikes back most efficiently. The bloodier the Palestinian attacks become, the more intense the Israeli's will retaliate. Should the suicide bombings stop then there won't be any incursions into Palestinian territory. But i'm afraid that's not going to happen.

[skywalker]

Well, johnny, if the suicide attacks do stop, I wonder how long it would be before the establishment of settlements are stopped and the existing ones are removed.

Mark

[johnny]

Originally posted by skywalker: Well, johnny, if the suicide attacks do stop, I wonder how long it would be before the establishment of settlements are stopped and the existing ones are removed. Mark

Well, if the attacks were indeed to stop, and the Israeli's would continue building settlements on Palestinian lands, the Israeli's would probably lose the little support they have left, and would give the Palestinians a much better position on the negotiationtable, don't you think ?

[skywalker]

We are on the same track johnny. It would be the hopeful progression. That said, I believe it is a Catch 22 issue and the first move will never be taken, sadly. Everyone deserves to live lives free of fear. Unfortunately the Fear Factor across the globe is growing despite all efforts to curtail it.

Mark

[Skunk]

Originally posted by johnny: quote: Originally posted by skywalker: Well, johnny, if the suicide attacks do stop, I wonder how long it would be before the establishment of settlements are stopped and the existing ones are removed. Mark

Well, if the attacks were indeed to stop, and the Israeli's would continue building settlements on Palestinian lands, the Israeli's would probably lose the little support they have left, and would give the Palestinians a much better position on the negotiationtable, don't you think ? [/QUOTE]Israel has been building settlements on 'Palestinian lands' since the 1967 war and have never enjoyed any support for that action by any government - but they continued the policy in earnest right up to the start of the first infitada. It made no difference to their plans - as far as successive Israeli governments are concerned, it's THEIR land and their RIGHT and no-one elses business. Ditto for these 'extrajudicial killings' - it's THEIR business, it's an INTERNAL matter and frankly the message is BUTT OUT OF OUR BUSINESS.

It's a sad reality, but the only thing that gives the Palestinians a place on the negociation table at all is the militant resistance to Israeli policy in the occupied territories - world opinion, courtesty of the US's UN veto vote, hasn't helped them in the slightest over the past 30 years. There is nothing to suggest that it would suddenly change now - indeed, the latest veto by the US is proof enough of that.

[ 03-26-2004, 06:41 AM: Message edited by: Skunk ]

[Timber Loftis]

It's a sad reality, but the only thing that gives the Palestinians a place on the negociation table at all is the militant resistance to Israeli policy in the occupied territories

Rarely do I appreciate the "terrorist supporter's" point-of-view when you try to point it out. However, this is probably sadly very true.

[Sir Taliesin]

Probably wouldn't have been Vetoed if the Arab states had condemned the use of terrorism by HAMAS.

[ 03-26-2004, 11:47 AM: Message edited by: Sir Taliesin ]

[skywalker]

The USA always vetoes these, don't we?

Mark