Israel assassinates Islamic militant
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, April 2, 2001
GAZA — Israel has assassinated a leading Islamic militant as part of
what Palestinians term a new policy by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to end
the more than six-month-old mini-war in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The militant assassinated on Monday was identified as Mohammed Abdul Al.
Palestinian sources said an Israeli helicopter fired three missiles toward
his car in Rafah near the Egyptian border.
Abdul Al was identified as a fugitive and a leading activist in the Iranian-backed
Islamic Jihad organization. The group has been held responsible for several
bombings in Israel over the past month in operations coordinated with the
Palestinian Authority. He was believed responsible for attacks on Israeli civilians.
Earlier, an Israeli soldier, Sgt. Yaakov Krenchel, was killed in a
Palestinian shooting attack near the West Bank city of Nablus.
The Palestinian Authority held a major military exercise on Saturday
against an expected invasion by Israel of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinians sources said the exercise was held both in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The exercise included defense of major roads as well as a response by
commandos to an Israeli invasion. On Friday, the ruling Fatah movement also
staged military maneuvers.
PA officials said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has launched what
they term a 100-day plan to end the current mini-war with Israel. They
said this would include the capture of strategic locations in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip as well as the assassination of key Palestinian figures.
Over the weekend, Israeli and Palestinians clashed in some of the
heaviest fighting in the more than six-month-old mini-war. At least seven
Palestinians were killed.
On late Saturday, Palestinians again fired toward the southern Jerusalem
neighborhood of Gilo. Other clashes were reported in Bethlehem, Hebron,
Jenin, Jericho Nablus and in several areas of the Gaza
Strip. This as PA Chairman Yasser Arafat convened his Cabinet and the PLO
leadership to discuss the Israeli invasion plans.
Israel has rejected a PA offer to renew negotiations based on a pledge
by Sharon to withdraw from further territory in the West Bank. Sharon aides
said the Israeli prime minister insists on the end of the mini-war before
negotiations are resumed.
Monday, April 2, 2001
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