Hamas Appoints New Leader After Slaying

[nodehopper]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Hamas secretly appointed a new Gaza Strip (news - web sites) chief early Sunday, but refused to reveal his identity after Israel assassinated two of the militant group's top leaders in less than a month, Hamas sources said.


Israel assassinated Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi in a missile strike on his car on Saturday, part of its declared campaign to wipe out the Islamic militant group's leadership ahead of a planned Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Two of Rantisi's bodyguards were also killed in the attack.


Rantisi was killed less than a month after Israel assassinated Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin. The group's Damascus-based leader Khaled Mashaal — who Israeli officials also threatened to kill — reportedly instructed the group to keep the name of its new Gaza leader secret.


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more here:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040418/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians&cid=540&ncid=716

[Jim Sagle]

1. A secret leader - ya gotta love it.

[maddezmom]

2. and the cycle continues

<Hamas posted a statement on its Web site pledging "100 unique retaliations" that will shake Israel. It said it had declared a state of emergency in the West Bank and Gaza Strip until the retaliation was completed.>

< "This policy of making an effort on the one hand to advance a political process and on the other hand to hit the terror organizations and their leaders will continue," Sharon said at the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday.>

[Aidoneus]

3. probably Ismail Abu Haniya

pretty much the last of the old inner circle that has yet to be martyred that has enough stature to command the movement in Gaza.

I don't see why Israel thinks throwing innumerable unknowns into the equation will help them, but I don't assume rationality. Recreating their own record of recent failures in such matters suggests the contrary.. every Hizbu'llah leader they killed when occupying Lebanon produced a far more capable and ultimately successful successor (the current being arguably the most popular Arab leader alive).

I think the Israeli "Defense" Ministry should put me on their payroll, since I see things that they do not appear to.

[daleo]

4. OK, I am mixing my religious imagery

But I fear Israel is creating bad karma through these actions (these 'targeted killings' I mean). They are in the middle east and they will have to eventually come to learn how to live with their neighbors. Depending on Washington, half way across the world, will not work forever. Sometimes strength is weakness and weakness is strength. It is a paradox of human existence (and perhaps why the human race survived the cold war).

[Muddleoftheroad]

6. Bad karma

The only bad karma you get from killing terrorists is when you delay.

So, now the clock is ticking on the new guy. I'll take the over of about three months.

[itaintoveryet]

7. i agree with muddleoftheroad

and that is why Sharon and Co. should follow suit.

[quinnox]

5. So now

I wonder if Israeli current government will have to randomly target crowds in hopes of getting the hamas leader. I'm sure all the killed or wounded will be called 'militants' though in the media.