All-out war on Hamas
Israel on Monday declared “all-out war” against the Islamic militant group Hamas, and threatened to break off diplomatic ties with the Palestinian Authority.
Ariel Sharon’s government has stiffened its insistence that the Palestinian leadership takes “tangible” steps to end terrorist activity among its rank and file.
Ending terrorist reprisals is a precondition of the US-backed “road map” for peace in the Middle East, which plans the cementing of a Palestinian state in 2005.
Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz is reported to have said that the August 19 Jerusalem bus bombing had “broken the track that was supposed to give the diplomatic process a chance.”
The declaration came after Israeli military helicopters fired missiles at Hamas members Monday in Gaza City, reportedly killing two Hamas “military activists,” later named as Khader Housari and Munther Kanitha, and injuring twenty-five people.
In the past two weeks, Israel’s army has killed 11 Hamas members and wounded more than 50 Palestinians in targeted “execution” attacks.
Hamas broke off its commitment to the seven-week cease-fire after Ismail Abu Shanab, a senior Hamas leader, was killed in a missile strike on a car in Gaza.
Separately, newly elected Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, is under pressure from supporters of Yasser Arafat, leader of the Palestinian Authority.
The Palestinian Legislative Council was due to convene on Monday to hear a report from Mr Abbas on his government’s first 100 days in office.
It has been delayed until Thursday as a power struggle ensued between Mr Arafat and Mr Abbas.
Supporters of Mr Arafat may call a no-confidence vote on Thursday.
Mr Arafat refuses to hand control of Palestinian security forces over to Mr Abbas. He says doing so would provoke all out civil war.
But on the cards is a compromise move which would see a seven-member national security council established, with Mr Arafat at the helm and Mr Abbas second in command.
US President Bush refuses to deal with the Mr Arafat, whom he considers a “terrorist.”
