Israelis kill Hamas militant
The attack came as a Palestinian power struggle that could wreck the road map to peace was heading for a climax and Israel threatened to send an army brigade into Gaza.
Witnesses said three men were in the car and that at least one got away.
Israel has been waging war on Hamas in retaliation for last month’s deadly suicide bombing that killed 21 people on a Jerusalem bus.
Including yesterday’s attack, 14 Palestinians, including at least 10 Hamas members, have been killed in missile strikes.
The missiles hit a small car as it was driving in a side street. Witness Salman Abu Nour, aged 42, said he was working in his printshop when the missiles hit. “I rushed outside, and saw a car like a ball of fire. I brought my fire extinguisher and helped people to fight the fire,” he said.
The man killed was identified as Khader Houssre, a 36-year-old Hamas member, said a hospital spokesman.
Meanwhile, Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Moshe Yaalon told the Israeli Cabinet that he is prepared to send an infantry brigade (about 3,000 troops) into the Gaza Strip to stop Hamas rocket fire.
Meanwhile, soldiers critically wounded a 15-year-old Palestinian in a clash in the West Bank town of Nablus with stone-throwing youngsters yesterday.
Hundreds of students threw stones at tanks and jeeps in several locations. Troops fired tear gas, rubber bullets and also live rounds to disperse the crowds, witnesses said. A Palestinian threw a petrol bomb at a tank near the main square, where about 70 stone throwers were assembled.
The top of the tank caught fire, said Palestinian rescue worker Ala Aratrut, who witnessed the incident. “A soldier from inside the tank began shooting randomly. The top of the tank was going round while the shooting went on,” Aratrut said.
A teenage boy fell to the ground after being shot in the head, the rescue worker said. Doctors said the boy, age 15, was in critical condition.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told ministers yesterday that there will be no let-up in the campaign against Hamas and other militant groups.
“We are continuing our operations against Hamas and other terror groups to prevent them from harming Israel’s citizens,” he said.
In the past three years of fighting, Israel has carried out several ground offensives in Gaza, but has shied away from reoccupying large areas of the densely populated coastal strip, instead focusing on air strikes.
However, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz warned he was ready to order a ground offensive if rocket fire does not cease.
Meanwhile, a power struggle between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and his beleaguered prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, is intensifying, with clashes over key appointments and control of security forces. Several Palestinian MPs, including Arafat allies, are lobbying to oust Abbas later this week after he presents a report on his first 100 days in office to parliament. It remains unclear whether the session will be followed by a vote of confidence. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom suggested an already troubled road map peace plan would be derailed if Abbas is ousted. “Israel will not negotiate with a new government formed under the instructions and the influence of Arafat.”
Arafat reluctantly appointed Abbas as the Palestinians’ first prime minister in April under pressure from Israel and the United States, which have accused Arafat of blocking peace efforts.
Abbas has minimal support among Palestinians, many of whom distrust him because he has Israel’s backing. While Arafat also has lost popularity after failing to deliver on promises of statehood, the 74-year-old remains the symbol of dreams of independence.
