Yet Another Assassination

This is a fine example of Israel's deliberate policy of inflaming tensions in the region --and, in this case, of upping the stakes in their quest to overthrow the Hamas government and to provoke it into reacting. The hope is that Hamas will violate its 18-month long truce by responding with violence to this attack thereby providing still more 'cover' for Israeli efforts to sabotage the outcome of the January elections and to prove it has 'no partner for peace.' It will then proceed to pressure Abbas into 'dismantling the terrorist infrastructure' - something he cannot possibly do. As the situation worsens, Israel will breathe a sigh of relief. The violence will allow it to continue its policies of land grabbing, settlement building and unilaterally setting its final borders. Abu Samhadana was recently made the Hamas government's security chief.

EXCERPT: The death of Abu Samhadana, among the prominent leaders in the Gaza Strip, could lead to renewed escalations in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including active engagement by Hamas in terrorism against Israel.

(understatement of the day)

_{Last update - 01:43 09/06/2006}

Top Palestinian militant killed in IAF Gaza strike

_{By Amos
Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents and AP}

An Israel Air Force strike on a Palestinian militants' training camp in Gaza on Thursday night killed the Hamas government's security chief, Jamal Abu Samhadana, his militant faction and Palestinian hospital officials said.

Abu Samhadana, who headed the Popular Resistance Committees, was killed along with at least three other PRC operatives, and 10 more were wounded, hospital officials said.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed striking the PRC camp in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, saying militants there were planning a large-scale attack on Israel. The IDF declined to comment on whether the strike had been a "targeted assassination."

The bombing, which was approved by Defense Minister Amir Peretz, was aimed at a PRC training camp set up on the ruins of the Slav settlement in the southern part of what had been Gush Katif settlement bloc.

The death of Abu Samhadana, among the prominent leaders in the Gaza Strip, could lead to renewed escalations in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including active engagement by Hamas in terrorism against Israel.

"This is a criminal assasination and Palestinians have the right to respond to this ugly crime by all means," said Khaled Abu Hilal, an Interior Ministry spokesman. "Abu Samhadana paid with his life for the freedom and dignity of his people."

A spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees vowed revenge.

"The Zionists and Israelis have opened the gates of hell by assassinating Abu Samhadana," said PRC spokesman Abu Abir.

"The Zionist entity and Zionist settlements near Gaza will not feel security and safety any more. Our rockets will rain into the Zionist entity and our heroes will blow themselves up among their dirty bodies," said a spokesman for the group.

Abu Samhadana was a key player in rocket attacks on Israel and a suspect in the fatal 2003 bombing of a U.S. convoy in the Gaza Strip. His recent appointment as director-general of the Hamas-led Interior Ministry infuriated both Israel and Hamas' Fatah rivals, led by Palestinian
Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

"Israel knows that Abu Samhadana works in the government and by killing him they are sending a message that all its members, from the prime minister to junior employees, are targets for death," said cabinet secretary Ghazi Hamad.

The strike, around 11:30 P.M. killed four operatives. Palestinian sources in Gaza reported a short while later that that Abu Samhadana was among the dead. Abu Samhadana founded the PRC as a Fatah splinter faction at the start of the second intifada in 2000.

The attack knocked out electricity in the area, hampering rescue efforts and attempts to ascertain casualties, police said.

Israel says the PRC is responsible for most of the rockets fired at its southern communities, according to Palestinian police.

Seven Qassam rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza on Thursday.

As word of Abu Samhadana's death spread, thousands of grieving Palestinians from his hometown of Rafah mobbed the hospital where his body was being held. Many of the mourners wept and fainted, witnesses said.

Abu Samhadana, a 43-year-old explosives expert, had been a key target for Israel, moving stealthily and switching cars and hideouts, despite his promotion to security chief by the Hamas-led government.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, the black-bearded Samhadana, himself one of the most renowned militants in the Palestinian territories, denied old allegations he was behind the 2003 bombing of a U.S. Embassy convoy in Gaza that killed three American security guards.

Jennifer Loewenstein
amadea311@earthlink.net
Stay up to date: Write to have your name added to the mailing list.

Have you asked yourself how is it possible that you, a well informed and educated citizen, can be ignorant of what is being done in your name, with your money? Why have you never read anything by these journalists and commentators in the newspapers and magazines you read? Why have you not heard about this on your radio or TV?

	Jennifer Loewenstein Archive
	This is a fine example of Israel's deliberate policy of inflaming tensions in the region --and, in this case, of upping the stakes in their quest to overthrow the Hamas government and to provoke it into reacting. The hope is that Hamas will violate its 18-month long truce by responding with violence to this attack thereby providing still more 'cover' for Israeli efforts to sabotage the outcome of the January elections and to prove it has 'no partner for peace.' It will then proceed to pressure Abbas into 'dismantling the terrorist infrastructure' - something he cannot possibly do. As the situation worsens, Israel will breathe a sigh of relief. The violence will allow it to continue its policies of land grabbing, settlement building and unilaterally setting its final borders. Abu Samhadana was recently made the Hamas government's security chief. EXCERPT: The death of Abu Samhadana, among the prominent leaders in the Gaza Strip, could lead to renewed escalations in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including active engagement by Hamas in terrorism against Israel. (understatement of the day) _{Last update - 01:43 09/06/2006} Top Palestinian militant killed in IAF Gaza strike _{By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents and AP} An Israel Air Force strike on a Palestinian militants' training camp in Gaza on Thursday night killed the Hamas government's security chief, Jamal Abu Samhadana, his militant faction and Palestinian hospital officials said. Abu Samhadana, who headed the Popular Resistance Committees, was killed along with at least three other PRC operatives, and 10 more were wounded, hospital officials said. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed striking the PRC camp in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, saying militants there were planning a large-scale attack on Israel. The IDF declined to comment on whether the strike had been a "targeted assassination." The bombing, which was approved by Defense Minister Amir Peretz, was aimed at a PRC training camp set up on the ruins of the Slav settlement in the southern part of what had been Gush Katif settlement bloc. The death of Abu Samhadana, among the prominent leaders in the Gaza Strip, could lead to renewed escalations in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including active engagement by Hamas in terrorism against Israel. "This is a criminal assasination and Palestinians have the right to respond to this ugly crime by all means," said Khaled Abu Hilal, an Interior Ministry spokesman. "Abu Samhadana paid with his life for the freedom and dignity of his people." A spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees vowed revenge. "The Zionists and Israelis have opened the gates of hell by assassinating Abu Samhadana," said PRC spokesman Abu Abir. "The Zionist entity and Zionist settlements near Gaza will not feel security and safety any more. Our rockets will rain into the Zionist entity and our heroes will blow themselves up among their dirty bodies," said a spokesman for the group. Abu Samhadana was a key player in rocket attacks on Israel and a suspect in the fatal 2003 bombing of a U.S. convoy in the Gaza Strip. His recent appointment as director-general of the Hamas-led Interior Ministry infuriated both Israel and Hamas' Fatah rivals, led by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. "Israel knows that Abu Samhadana works in the government and by killing him they are sending a message that all its members, from the prime minister to junior employees, are targets for death," said cabinet secretary Ghazi Hamad. The strike, around 11:30 P.M. killed four operatives. Palestinian sources in Gaza reported a short while later that that Abu Samhadana was among the dead. Abu Samhadana founded the PRC as a Fatah splinter faction at the start of the second intifada in 2000. The attack knocked out electricity in the area, hampering rescue efforts and attempts to ascertain casualties, police said. Israel says the PRC is responsible for most of the rockets fired at its southern communities, according to Palestinian police. Seven Qassam rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza on Thursday. As word of Abu Samhadana's death spread, thousands of grieving Palestinians from his hometown of Rafah mobbed the hospital where his body was being held. Many of the mourners wept and fainted, witnesses said. Abu Samhadana, a 43-year-old explosives expert, had been a key target for Israel, moving stealthily and switching cars and hideouts, despite his promotion to security chief by the Hamas-led government. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, the black-bearded Samhadana, himself one of the most renowned militants in the Palestinian territories, denied old allegations he was behind the 2003 bombing of a U.S. Embassy convoy in Gaza that killed three American security guards. Jennifer Loewenstein amadea311@earthlink.net Stay up to date: Write to have your name added to the mailing list. Have you asked yourself how is it possible that you, a well informed and educated citizen, can be ignorant of what is being done in your name, with your money? Why have you never read anything by these journalists and commentators in the newspapers and magazines you read? Why have you not heard about this on your radio or TV?