Palestinian mourners vow revenge on Israel

TENS of thousands of Palestinians marched in a funeral procession of a leading militant yesterday, vowing revenge after a week of violence in which Israeli forces have killed 31 Palestinians.

“Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, prepare the coffins,” organisers yelled through loudspeakers. “Revenge is coming soon, in Tel Aviv and Jaffa.”

The surge of violence, including the killing of three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank by Israeli forces yesterday, followed an attack last Saturday in which Hamas militants blew up an Israeli tank and killed its four crew.