ISRAEL/GAZA: Israel threatens to target Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh if Hamas resumes attacks in the Jewish State

Record ID: 398206

  • Title: ISRAEL/GAZA: Israel threatens to target Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh if Hamas resumes attacks in the Jewish State
  • Date: 7th March 2006
  • Summary: PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN SESSION HANIYEH SITTING DURING MEETING
  • Embargoed: 22nd March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4HHKLCIBRMQEQ47VFQ8XT2E9E
  • Story Text: Israel could target Hamas leaders, including Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh, if the militant group resumes attacks in the Jewish state, Israeli officials said on Tuesday (March 7).
    Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz made the remarks on Army Radio -- three weeks before Israel's March 28 general election -- echoing recent comments by interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's security advisers.
    Israeli Minister of Transportation Meir Sheetrit backed up the statement.
    "I think it is a principle that has been established in Israel that no one that has been involved in terror, responsible for terror actions - have no immunity - doesn't matter what kind of position he's holding. It doesn't give (justification) to Haniyeh, or anybody else because he's been elected to any position really to be involved in terror, or responsible for terror actions. If he do that, of course he would have no immunity against interception," Sheetrit said in Tel Aviv after attending an Israeli train convention with Olmert.
    Hamas, which has sworn to Israel's destruction, has largely abided by an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire declared a year ago and is in the process of forming a government following its surprise victory in a January 25 parliamentary election.
    Palestinian Prime Minister Designate and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh shrugged off the comments.
    "These are no new threats. The Palestinian people are much larger than this," Haniyeh said as he made his way to the Palestinian Legislative Council.
    Hamas has carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings since a Palestinian uprising began in 2000 and Israel has assassinated some of the group's senior leaders, including co-founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
    Israel has held off targeting top officials in the group over the past year since a truce has been in effect.
    Meanwhile armed men formed a guard of honour in Gaza City on Tuesday as thousands attended the funeral of militants killed by an Israeli airstrike on Monday (March 6).
    Palestinian medics and witnesses said Israel killed two Islamic Jihad militants and three other people, including an eight-year-old boy.
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