Israel: Hamas leadership in Syria could be targeted

Haaretz ^ | April 19, 2004 | Amos Harel

[yonif]

Israel will consider attacking Hamas' compound in Damascus should the organization move its main power base to Syria following the assassinations of its former leaders, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi, in Gaza.

There is no proof at this stage that orders to carry out terror attacks are being delivered by Hamas leaders in Damascus to members of the organization in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. However, during meetings recently held by Israeli political and security officials, participants agreed that should intelligence information point to Damascus as Hamas' nerve center, the option of targeting the organization in Syria could be considered.

Given Hezbollah's increasing support for Palestinian terror, Israel also will consider attacking the organization's targets in Lebanon, according to Israeli sources.

Following the March 22 assassination of Yassin, his successor, Rantisi, deviated from Hamas policy and encouraged Hezbollah and Iran to become directly involved in the organization's terror activity. This was one of the reasons why Israel decided to assassinate him. Continued Hezbollah involvement in Palestinian terror would pose a serious risk to the lives of the Shi'ite organization's leaders, Israeli security officials have warned.

Hamas has yet to decide on Rantisi's successor. In principle, Dr. Mahmoud a-Zahar, who was considered Rantisi's deputy, is supposed to head the organization. However, Israeli intelligence officials have learned that a-Zahar has sent signals to fellow Hamas leaders both in Gaza and overseas, particularly Khaled Mashal, that he does not want the top post, and certainly does not want it to be made public.

Israeli officials assume that a-Zahar's reluctance is due to the killing of Yassin and Rantisi as well as an attempted assassination against last summer in which he sustained injuries and one of his sons was killed.

Shortly after Saturday's assassination of Rantisi, Mashal announced that the identity of the new Hamas leader in Gaza would not be disclosed.

In all likelihood, a collective leadership arrangement will materialize on the Gaza Strip that will include a-Zahar. Other prominent Hamas figures who might play a role in such a collective include Ismail Haniyeh, Sa'id Siam, and Nizar I'an.

A top Israeli security official said Sunday that any figure who replaces Rantisi will be a potential assassination target. "Hamas, as a whole, is a ticking time bomb," the official said. "If they end the terror attacks, we'll end the activity against their leaders."

Speaking at a Holocaust Day ceremony Sunday night, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said that "we will not cease to hunt down the killers of our children."

[yonif]

Ping.

[tet68]

"we will not cease to hunt down the killers of our children."

Some dogs NEED killing.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The USA should buckle up and join them, IMO.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

The Israelis should never have left Lebanon under Barak...see what the leftist have done, they (Israeli left, peace now ...blah, blah, blah leftists) killed scores of Israelis (children & women). The government should have destroyed Syria, in the end they are going to have to do it anyways. The same will happen in America if Kerry is elected, scores will be killed. Israel is your crystal ball, break the cycle by being stronger.

[MJY1288]

IMHO, Iran should be next, Those bastards are funding more terrorists than anyone else, from Hamas, Hezbola to the Shiite radical in Iraq, Mokdtar al-Sadr, by then Syria's Assad will pull a Khadafi

[Semper Paratus]

We gave the Isreal the green light to move against Syria because we'll be right behind them.

[jocko12]

GOOD

[Betaille]

Israel could tear Syria to peices within hours. I say we give them a go. They could use some target practice. With US support the entire thing would be over in about 2 hours.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

Depends if they get influenced by the communist left...I hate Socialists/Communists/Nazis...

[Smartass]

NEXT...

[Betaille]

Leftists are useless as allies. They can not fight. Leftism is basically national suicide. Tearing apart a people's culture, religion, will to fight. That is leftism.

[CatOwner]

"The USA should buckle up and join them, IMO."

Won't happen, at least overtly. The US worries too much about pissing off the Arabs. To some degree, it is about the oil. The day we devise an energy source that we can use to efficiently power our vehicles is the day we can tell the Arabs to go pound sand. It will also be the day we can blast ALL Islamic fanatics off the face of the Earth.

[Mr. Mojo]

Given Hezbollah's increasing support for Palestinian terror, Israel also will consider attacking the organization's targets in Lebanon

A Bekaa Valley operation is long overdue.

[Mr. Mojo]

To some degree, it is about the oil.

Then we should take the oil. Who's going to stop us?

[yonif]

The Israelis should never have left Lebanon under Barak...see what the leftist have done, they (Israeli left, peace now ...blah, blah, blah leftists) killed scores of Israelis (children & women).

Yup. That's why they shouldn't leave Gaza under Sharon's plan either.

[L`enn]

The line Loftus used was it would take a country (US he meants but Israel applies also) 20 seconds to crush Syria. 1 second to do it, 19 to stop laughing.

[yonif]

Which is a stupid policy because the Arabs are always pissed at America and Israel.

[Robert_Paulson2]

we need to do both simultaenously.

pop seventy or eight of the ayatollah's key folks... get the means to his opposition, to off him on Iranian TV, after a ten minute trial....

and simultaneously with Israel's backing or following THEIR lead go balls to the wall with Syria.
WE have the barracks score to settle...

Fallen service members remembered on 20th anniversary of Beirut blast
'Their loss is not in vain'
Thursday, October 23, 2003

[Cinnamon Girl]

In principle, Dr. Mahmoud a-Zahar, who was considered Rantisi's deputy, is supposed to head the organization. However, Israeli intelligence officials have learned that a-Zahar has sent signals to fellow Hamas leaders both in Gaza and overseas, particularly Khaled Mashal, that he does not want the top post, and certainly does not want it to be made public

Oops. So much for top secret communication in Hamasville.