Missile attack places pressure on fragile ceasefire

An Israeli aircraft today fired at a group of Hamas militants preparing to attack Israeli targets in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian witnesses said, further straining a fragile ceasefire and escalating tensions in the region.

The witnesses said the militants escaped unharmed. But the incident, near the city of Khan Younis, was the latest sign of trouble for the ceasefire.

Six people were killed yesterday in a series of clashes in the West Bank and Gaza, making it one of the bloodiest days since the truce was declared on February 8.

The army said the air force attacked a mortar launcher after a shell was fired toward Israel. It also struck a vehicle carrying other launchers, the army said. It said no one was inside the vehicle.

During more than four years of fighting, Israel has carried out dozens of airstrikes in Gaza, virtually halting the practice since the truce declaration.

Despite the fighting, Israeli and Palestinian officials were making efforts to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz and his Palestinian counterpart, Nasser Yousef, were to meet later today to discuss the security situation, and Palestinian officials in Gaza claimed they blew up four explosives discovered near a Jewish settlement. Israel did not comment on the claim.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said he expects the ceasefire to survive and urged militants to respect it.

“I’m not worried about the calm,” Abbas said after a meeting with the visiting British foreign secretary, Jack Straw.

“The calm is our responsibility, and I hope that all of us will honour their responsibilities,” he added.

Abbas spoke before the Israeli airstrike. Later, Abbas headed to Gaza for talks with Hamas and other violent groups. Officials said the talks would focus on the latest incidents as well as a dispute between Abbas’ Fatah Party and Hamas over recently postponed legislative elections.

Israeli officials have urged Abbas to crack down on militant groups like Hamas and reserve the right to hit militants carrying out attacks, as in today’s airstrike in Gaza.

Straw, speaking to reporters, said Britain supports Israel’s right to defend itself.

“If God forbid the situation goes backward and the Israelis are subject to more terror, then no Israeli government can stand idly by,” he said.

The militants have sent mixed signals over the truce. Hamas and Islamic Jihad have periodically fired barrages of rockets and mortars at Israeli targets, claiming they are in response to Israeli violations. At the same time, the groups have said they remain committed to preserving the quiet.

Today, a senior Hamas official in the West Bank said the group is ready for dialogue with the US and Europe, even though it rejects calls from the West to disarm.

“We are interested in the dialogue,” said Mohammed Ghazal. “But we are not able to meet their conditions now before resolving our national cause.”

Straw ruled out any talks with the group, which calls for the destruction of Israel, as long as it remains committed to violence.

“The fact that a terrorist organisation stands in election does not mean it ceases to be a terror organisation,” Straw said. “Hamas will stay on that list until it declares the renunciation of violence in practice as well as in words and until it ceases to be committed to the destruction of Israel.”

Despite Straw’s tough words, he acknowledged in a radio interview yesterday that British diplomats recently met with Hamas-affiliated politicians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In Washington, US officials yesterday also rejected talks with Hamas. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Hamas “is designated as a terrorist organisation, and we do not have dialogue with designated terrorist organisations.”

Israel wants the ceasefire to remain in effect to ease the way for its planned withdrawal from Gaza and part of the West Bank in August.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon chaired a ministerial meeting today where preparations for the withdrawal were discussed.

The meeting was uncharacteristically opened to journalists, in an apparent effort to dispel impressions that the government isn’t ready to provide alternative housing, jobs and schools for the 9,000 settlers who are to be relocated.

“The evacuation will take place on schedule,” Sharon said, criticising “incitement,” threats and pressure on the settlers by opponents of the pullout.

Officials said only about half of the settlers slated for evacuation are in talks with the government about moving, defying calls by their leaders to oppose the plan at all costs, officials said.

Pullout opponents have urged settlers not to co-operate with the pullout plan, and some settlers who have said they are ready to go say they have been threatened and ostracised.

“They are not concerned with the fate of the settlers and their children,” Sharon said. “They are willing to create great suffering on top of the suffering the evacuation will inflict, in order to achieve their political aims.”

Eran Sternberg, a settler spokesman, accused Sharon of reacting to shrinking support for his plan.

An Israel Radio poll published today showed popular support for the withdrawal falling to 50%, from 60% and higher a year ago. There were no details on the poll’s methodology or margin of error.