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Legacy

Israeli missile blows up guerrilla leader

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Saturday, November 11, 2000

RAMALLAH — For the first time in the five-week mini-war, Israel has targeted a leader of the Palestinian military campaign.

Hussein Abayed, described as the leader of the military wing of ruling Fatah party in the southern West Bank, was blown up in his car in Bet Sahour on Thursday. Two women bystanders were also killed when an Israeli air force helicopter shot a missile at Abayed's car.

Israeli military commanders said the 37-year-old Abayed was a leader of the Fatah guerrilla movement in the Bethlehem area and fired on Israeli troops and bases as well as on Jerusalem. They said Abayed was a leading arms dealer in the Palestinian Authority.

The commanders said this could be the start of a campaign against Palestinian gunmen. But they ruled out an attack on Fatah leaders who are not personally involved in the violence.

"I don't think this is the first process or the last process," Maj. Gen. Yitzhak Eitan, head of the military's Central Command, said.

Fatah has pledged revenge and called for the assassination of Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz. But Fatah leaders confirmed the Israeli description of Abayed as a key combatant.

"This is the beginning of targeting Fatah and we will respond to this action," Fatah leader Hussein Sheik said.

Overnight Friday, Palestinian gunmen shot at Israeli forces around Bethlehem. Fatah officials have warned of an escalation of violence.

"The blood of martyr Hussein Suyef Abeyad will not flow for nothing, and the head of Mofaz is wanted by Fatah and its hawks," a Fatah leaflet read. "Fatah calls on the people and its supporters for revenge and response. There will be no stability or calm, and the assault rifles will reach the Gilo settlement and all of the settlements."

Overnight Friday, Palestinian fighters attacked Israeli military positions throughout the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Palestinian sources said Fatah has received the green light from Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to continue attacks on Israel. The sources said Arafat has told Fatah leaders that his calls for a ceasefire are meant only for Western consumption.

On Tuesday, the sources said, Arafat was quoted as telling Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti that Arab governments will provide money if the Palestinians continue their conflict with Israel. Officials said that despite an EU loan of more than $22 million the PA has been unable to pay government salaries. They said the PA needs $55 million to pay salaries.

"Our only hope for getting money is from the Arab states," Arafat was quoted as saying. "But the Arab states will not give money if there is not blood. So, push, push, push."

Saturday, November 11, 2000


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