- Title: VARIOUS: ISRAELI LEADERS HAIL KILLING OF TOP HAMAS BOMB MAKER MUHANAD AL TAHER
- Date: 2nd July 2002
- Summary: (W4) NABLUS, WEST BANK (JULY 1, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. HAS/SLV EXTERIOR HOUSE OF MUHANAD AL-TAHER'S HOUSE DESTROYED BY ISRAELIS OVERNIGHT; SLV DESTROYED HOUSE (5 SHOTS) 0.35 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) WITNESS, SAYING "We were inside the house and were forced out the house, some of us had their hands tied and then we heard shooting then we heard the bulldo
- Embargoed: 17th July 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: JERUSALEM/ JENIN REFUGEE CAMP, NABLUS AND RAMALLAH, WEST BANK/RAFAH AND GAZA, GAZA
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Reuters ID: LVADR5N4U5JNTJ5W44ANY53P6G9B
- Story Text: Israeli leaders have hailed the killing of a top Hamas
bomb-maker as a resounding military success and said such
attacks would continue, but the Palestinians condemned it as
state-sponsored assassination.
The militant Islamic group Hamas vowed to avenge the death
of Muhanad al-Taher and one of his lieutenants in a commando
raid in the West Bank city of Nablus on Sunday, increasing the
risk of a new spiral of Middle East violence.
Israeli special forces killed Muhanad al-Taher and one
of his deputies in a raid on a house in the West Bank city of
Nablus on Sunday (June 30). Palestinians described Taher as
"the Engineer-4," the head of Hamas's military wing in Nablus
and a bomb-maker at the top of Israel's most-wanted list.
Palestinian witnesses said Israeli special forces
surrounded the home of a Taher associate in Nablus, called on
its occupants to evacuate and opened fire after most had left.
"We were inside the house and were forced out the house,
some of us had their hands tied and then we heard shooting
then we heard the bulldozers and then they started demolishing
the house then we heard heavy shooting", one man said.
Israeli security sources said a third militant was also
wounded.
Israel has tracked down and killed dozens of Palestinian
militants it says were behind attacks on Israelis.
Palestinians have branded the killings as criminal acts and
the practice has been condemned internationally.
"This martyrdom is a medal honoured by God, a gift from
God", said Nour al-Deen Darwazi, the father of Taher's deputy,
Imad.
Israeli military sources trumpeted the killing of Taher,
saying he had a hand in most of the latest suicide attacks and
was responsible for the deaths of more than 117 Israelis.
"I think it was a very important operation", said Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "I speak about a murderer that
committed the most terrible crimes".
"There is no compromise with terror and one should
struggle against terror. That's what we are doing and of
course we are exercising our right to self defence. We have
done that and we are going to continue to do that", he
continued.
Hamas condemned the attack, saying it would merely
increase determination to continue Jihad and resistance.
The Palestinian Authority reiterated the position.
"The continuity of the Israeli campaign of killing and
other types of pressure on Palestinian people is only going to
produce further violent Palestinian reaction", said Labour
Minister Ghassan Khatib.
"It's only when Israel will realise that peaceful means
are more efficient in achieving the legitimate objectives of
peace and security for Israel. Only then the Israelis can
contribute positively to improving the situations."
Israeli forces have maintained a tight grip on
Palestinian-ruled cities in the West Bank after launching a
major new offensive following suicide bombings that killed 26
Israelis on June 18 and 19.
In Ramallah, Israeli troops continued to surround
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat though the curfew was
lifted for a few hours.
The Palestinians have accused the United States of giving
Sharon the green light for such attacks and criticised the
international community for staying silent.
Israel has been emboldened and the Palestinians angered by
U.S. President George W. Bush's call last week for Palestinian
President Yasser Arafat to be replaced with new leaders
"uncompromised by terror".
Adding to the pressure on the Palestinians, U.S. Secretary
of State Colin Powell said on Sunday Washington was no longer
talking to Arafat and had no plans to do so in the future.
Arafat, speaking by satellite link to an audience in
Switzerland, offered to meet Bush "any time, anywhere" to
promote Middle East peace, despite the president's call for
his removal.
The president, who has announced Palestinian elections for
January, said it was impossible to carry out reforms demanded
by the international community while Israeli military
occupation of Palestinian territory remained "complete and
total".
Isreali bulldozers began clearing debris and rubble from
the remains of the Palestinian Authority headquarters in
Hebron, destroyed by tanks and helicopter gunships at the
weekend.
In Rafah, Southern Gaza, Israeli bulldozers demolished
seven houses completely and two houses partially after three
tanks and a bulldozer entered the area after midnight.
The incursion drew fire from the side of the Palestinians
who also detonated a bomb against advancing troops. Two
Palestinians, including a gunman, were wounded. The wounded
civilians suffered critical bullet wounds, according to
hospital sources. Tanks also fired shells against the camp.
The Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza has
largely destroyed the Palestinian economy. In Gaza city on
Monday, thousands of Palestinians marched in protest at the
situation, calling for jobs.
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