| Submit your comments on this article |
| Middle East |
| Official: Israel to Kill Hamas Founder |
| 2004-01-16 |
| Israel will hunt and kill the founder of Hamas, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, in retaliation for a deadly attack on Israeli border guards, Israel’s deputy defense minister said in the bluntest warning yet against leaders of the Islamic militant group. I’d say that’s pretty blunt. Yassin, a quadriplegic, did not try to hide Friday, making his way to a Gaza City mosque near his home in a wheelchair pushed by an assistant. "We do not fear the threat of death," Yassin, wrapped in a brown blanket, told reporters outside the mosque. "We will not bow to pressure and resistance will continue until the occupation is destroyed." "I will not run, er, roll away." Yassin said he was not personally involved in planning attacks, denying allegations by Israeli security officials that he had approved Wednesday’s bombing in which a female suicide bomber killed four Israelis at the Erez crossing into Israel. The Israeli officials also said Yassin issued a religious ruling allowing women to become bombers, after Hamas initially recruited only male assailants. Running short of stupid men? Israeli security officials met Wednesday at the Defense Ministry to weigh a response to the latest Hamas bombing. One official said targeted killings of senior Hamas members are likely to resume after a lull of several months. Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim said Yassin is a key target. "Sheik Yassin is marked for death, and he should hide himself deep underground where he won’t know the difference between day and night. And we will find him in the tunnels, and we will eliminate him," Boim told Israel Army Radio on Thursday night. That sounds pretty final to me, about time too. However, several security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Yassin was not mentioned specifically in the discussions at the Defense Ministry. Killing the Hamas founder would require approval by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the officials said. OK An Israeli strike against Yassin, who is revered also by Palestinians who do not support Hamas, would likely provoke revenge bombings. An Israeli looking cross-eyed at them provokes revenge Yassin already dodged one Israeli attempt to kill him in September. A warplane dropped a 550-pound bomb on a building where he and other Hamas leaders were meeting, but Yassin escaped with just a small wound to his hand. Pity it didn’t get infected. After several other high-profile but ineffective attacks against Palestinian leaders in the summer, Israel scaled back its attacks in concert with a significant drop in Hamas bombings. However, there was never evidence of even an unspoken agreement between the two enemies. Israel insisted that the downturn was attributable to its own security forces, claiming that they arrested as many as 30 potential suicide bombers. That’ll do it. For their part, Hamas leaders, though often in hiding to avoid Israeli strikes, kept up their militant pronouncements and rebuffed efforts by Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and Egyptian mediators to declare a halt to attacks against Israelis. Yassin reiterated Friday that Hamas would not agree to a cease-fire. Ok, fight’s on then. The suicide bombing on Wednesday put an end to the "so-called quiet period," said the Israeli air force commander, Maj. Gen. Dan Halutz. Halutz denied that the reduction in Israel’s targeted killings was linked to a slowdown in Palestinian attacks. "Since it is a preventive measure, it has nothing to do with the number of casualties that we have," he said Thursday at a meeting of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Air force helicopters launching missiles have been used in most of the targeted killings, which Palestinians denounce as assassination of their leaders. Without giving details, Halutz said the air force and military intelligence have developed "pinpoint" methods to "hit only those who deserve it." However, dozens of bystanders have been killed in air strikes in towns, cities and refugee camps. That’s where the targets are hiding. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #14 agreed, Zhang, still sharp as a tack I see. Why is he still alive, indeed? I mean he can't run far! Pop him! And keep building that happy fun fence... keep building and when it's done Israel can finally wash their hands of the Islamic palestinians! |
| Posted by: Anon1 2004-1-17 12:46:44 AM |
| #13 Israelis are like 18-year-old virgins talking about their mythical sexual exploits. Not exactly... they're more like 47 year old double divorcees remembering the past. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-16 8:10:48 PM |
| #12 The Israelis are like 18-year-old virgins talking about their mythical sexual exploits. They need to stop talking and start doing. Yassin is still alive and Rantissi is still alive. What's wrong with this picture? And why does Hamas still have a leadership at any level? Shouldn't Israel start taking Hamas-linked mullahs down - every last one of them? Put out the word - anyone who takes money from Hamas is a target. Any principal who teaches that Jews should be killed should be shot. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-1-16 7:39:39 PM |
| #11 I was #10 comment. Cookie delete button pushed. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-1-16 3:12:34 PM |
| #10 The IDF needs the equivalent of counterbattery fire applied to fatwas. Issue a fatwa promoting terrorism and the next word the Imam utters is "INCOMING!" Actually, when properly tuned up the system will hit before its presence is known. That will be the Mark II unit. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-1-16 1:54:38 PM |
| #9 Excellent idea Mike and steal his handicapped permit. Destroy every ramp, elevator, wide restroom in Gaza and send the Italian mechanics to work on his wheelchair's brakes. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-16 1:22:19 PM |
| #8 Wipe out the entire Gaza Strip. Capture all the inhabitants, sort out the militants and hang them, and march the rest into Egypt where they belong. Build the new fence right out into the Mediterranean, and start training sharks to take out the swimmers. Then tell Arafart he's next. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-1-16 1:16:04 PM |
| #7 ...Actually, if you want to REALLY mess with Sheik Yassin's turbaned lil' brain...kill all his bodyguards, leave him alone. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2004-1-16 11:22:03 AM |
| #6 "We do not fear the threat of death," Yassin, wrapped in a brown blanket, told reporters outside the mosque. That's the green light. Have at it, IDF. And happy hunting. Air force helicopters launching missiles have been used in most of the targeted killings, which Palestinians denounce as assassination of their leaders. "Ohhh, the pain, the pain." -- Dr. Smith, Lost in Space Without giving details, Halutz said the air force and military intelligence have developed "pinpoint" methods to "hit only those who deserve it." However, dozens of bystanders have been killed in air strikes in towns, cities and refugee camps. Have there been any earlier instances of the use of Human Shields&trade ? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-1-16 10:50:43 AM |
| #5 Anyone within a half-mile radius of that worm should know they're taking their lives into their own hands. Unleash the high-explosives, and let any "bystanders" be damned. F*ck that pinpoint shit. The sooner Yassin goes toes-up the better. Then carpet bomb his funeral procession. |
| Posted by: Scooter 2004-1-16 10:35:56 AM |
| #4 Running short of stupid men? I think this is aimed at world opinion - imagine how oppressed they must be if even young mothers etc etc |
| Posted by: rkb 2004-1-16 10:35:42 AM |
| #3 I think the Egyptians and Jordanians have quietly 'approved' the take out of Yassin. |
| Posted by: mhw 2004-1-16 9:37:45 AM |
| #2 The way to kill Yassin us to first capture him, then throw him into the path of stampeding pigs. Be sure to watch him crawl in the other direction! |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-1-16 9:36:40 AM |
| #1 IDF: Happy hunting! Third time's a charm, they say! |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2004-1-16 9:22:14 AM |