Palestinian police release Hamas member

Palestinian police released a member of a Hamas rocket squad today, despite a pledge to get tough with those who break a ceasefire with Israel.

The release came after intervention by outraged Hamas leaders and Egyptian diplomats. The suspect was set free even though he and two other Hamas militants had fired at officers during Monday night’s arrest, and a rocket launcher and firearms were found in their car.

Israeli officials said the incident underscores the failure of Abbas’ attempt to co-opt rather than confront militants. They said Hamas must be disarmed, preferably before Palestinian legislative elections in July, and that otherwise Israel may not move forward on the US-backed “road map” peace plan.

Abbas has insisted he will avoid a large-scale confrontation with the militants, but recently adopted a tougher approach, warning last week that he will use an “iron fist” against those violating the ceasefire.

On Monday night, Palestinian police acting on a tip tried to stop a car carrying three Hamas militants in northern Gaza, said Tawfik Abu Khoussa, a spokesman for the Palestinian Interior Ministry. The militants opened fire, drawing return fire by police, Abu Khoussa said, adding that no one was hurt.

Two gunmen got away, and the third was arrested, marking the first time a member of a Hamas rocket squad was taken into custody since Hamas promised Abbas in March it would halt attacks on Israel.

It was not clear whether the squad had already fired rockets when it was stopped by Palestinian police. However, minutes earlier, two rockets had been fired from that area, and exploded near the Israeli border town of Sderot, causing no injuries, the Israeli military said.

Palestinian police found a rocket launcher, firearms and ammunition in the car.

Abu Khoussa said it was “completely unacceptable” to have Hamas members touring with a rocket launcher. “This is a violation of our commitment (to a truce) and that’s what we told the Hamas leadership through the Egyptians,” he said.

Egypt helped broker the truce, and apparently pushed for the release of the Hamas suspect for fear the Islamic militants would otherwise stage large-scale street protests.

The incident underscored the difficulties Abbas is facing in keeping the powerful Hamas in check.

As part of his understandings with the Islamic militants, Abbas had agreed to allow them to keep their weapons, provided they don’t flaunt them in public or use them in attacks against Israel. Abbas told Hamas leaders last month that a movement transforming itself into a political party does not need weapons, but stopped short of posing an ultimatum.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat suggested the ultimate goal is to disarm Hamas, but called it “a process.” Israel’s latest demand – that Hamas disarm before the July legislative election – is a pretext for not moving ahead with the “road map”, Erekat said.

“Israel knows that we are exerting maximum effort to maintain law in the Palestinian territories. One gun and one authority,” Erekat added.

However, Israeli officials said the latest incident shows that Abbas has no choice but to get tough. “As long as there are no real steps to arrest perpetrators, disarm terrorists and dismantle the infrastructure that produces these rockets, there will be no peace and quiet,” said Raanan Gissin, an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. “This is just an indication that what they are doing is insufficient.”

In the first stage of the three-phase “road map”, the Palestinians must dismantle militant groups and Israel must freeze construction in Jewish settlements. Neither side has fulfilled its obligations.

The US has said it expects both sides to fulfil their road map obligations, but there are no indications the US will pressure Abbas to abandon his gradual approach.

“According to the road map, all terrorists must disarm and all terrorist groups must be dismantled and Hamas is a terrorist group and so they must disarm whether or not they join the political process,” said Paul Patin, spokesman for the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Mark Regev, an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Hamas is using a current quiet period to “rearm, retrain and strengthen capabilities and when they choose to take the initiative they will torpedo this entire process of reconciliation.”

Sami Abu Zukhri, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said his group would not disarm and demanded Israel stay out of internal Palestinian affairs, such as the election.

“The Palestinian resistance rifles are legal but the occupation and its rifles are illegal because they are occupiers and invaders,” Abu Zukhri said.

“The Palestinian election is an internal Palestinian issue and such a statement by the Israelis is an interference in the Palestinian internal affairs that we cannot accept.”