http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040324/D81GP45G0.html
Hamas Says It Will Target Sharon, Not U.S.
Mar 24, 8:50 AM (ET)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - The new Hamas leader in Gaza said on Wednesday the group had no plans to attack American targets, pulling back from retaliatory threats by the group's armed wing after Israel's assassination of the Hamas founder.
At the same time, however, another top Hamas political figure said the militant group would try to kill Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in retaliation for the death of Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin.
The Islamic group had made veiled threats it would retaliate against the United States for Yassin's killing, but it has rarely attacked American targets during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
But Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a hard-liner named Tuesday as Hamas' new Gaza chieftain, 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 also denied reports Hamas now would join with al-Qaida, calling the claims "Zionist propaganda."
The armed wing of Hamas issued a statement Monday saying America's backing of Israel had made Yassin's assassination possible. "All the Muslims of the world will be honored to join in on the retaliation for this crime," the statement said.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Wednesday he opposed targeting civilians.
"We are against any attack on civilians, whether they were Israel or Palestinian," he said.
President Bush said after the statement that the United States took the threat seriously. On Tuesday, the State Department repeated a long-standing warning urging Americans not to travel to the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile Wednesday, Khaled Mashaal, Hamas' overall leader, 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 last 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.
Rantisi led about 1,000 people in noon prayers Wednesday at the stadium, where Hamas has organized mourning ceremonies. As he spoke to reporters afterward, he was surrounded by about 25 youths wearing green Hamas bandanas.
Also, several hundred women gathered in a mourning tent near Yassin's home in a run-down Gaza City neighborhood. Many wore Hamas headbands, and some wrapped themselves in long pieces of green Hamas flags. "Rantisi, give weapons to the women," they chanted.
Fearing retaliation, Israel has gone on high alert since Yassin's death. Security has been stepped up throughout the country, 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 on either side 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 Israeli airstrike.
On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry withdrew diplomats and their families from missions in the Arab countries of Qatar and Mauritania. The ministry said the decision was precautionary and it had not received any specific threats.
www.ctrl.org DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
