Posted on 01/15/2008 9:57:51 AM PST by mojito
The exiled leader of Hamas said Tuesday that Israel's Gaza Strip operation which left 18 Palestinians dead, including the son of a senior Hamas leader, was the fruit of US President George W. Bush's visit to the Middle East region.
Khaled Mashaal, in an interview with The Associated Press in Damascus where he lives, accused Bush of inciting Israeli leaders.
"This crime is the ugly fruit of Bush's visit to the region. He has incited the Zionists and has exerted pressure on the Palestinian side to become more hardline against Palestinian dialogue," he said during the interview in his office.
"This proves that our people are great and our leaders sacrifice their sons. These are the real leaders that meld with their people and defend them, not those who infiltrate to the futile negotiating table with the Zionist entity," he said of Fatah.
Mashaal said Hamas will retaliate to the outcome in Gaza with "more resistance, steadfastness and national unity."
"We will not offer more concessions because of these crimes," he added.
Earlier, Hamas declared three days of mourning throughout the Strip after the IDF killed Hussam Zahar, the son of former Palestinian Authority foreign minister and senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar, during operations on Tuesday.
Fifty Palestinians were wounded as troops backed by tanks and helicopters raided the northern Strip to stop rocket fire into southern Israel.
The Egoz undercover unit moved first into the Zeitoun area east of Gaza City, striking a house used by Palestinian terrorists to launch rockets, Hamas security said. Palestinian gunmen discovered the soldiers, shot at them and an exchange of fire broke out, Hamas said. IDF tanks, bulldozers and helicopters then entered the area, firing at the terrorists, Hamas said.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he describes as "the Israeli massacre in Gaza." According to the Fatah leader, Israel carried out barbaric actions which damage the peace proves. "[We] cannot remain silent in light of these crimes," he added.
The IDF confirmed the operation in the area, saying troops fired at terrorists who had approached the border fence. After an exchange of fire broke out, aircraft also fired at the gunmen, the army said. According to a military source, during the gunfight, an IDF helicopter fired at a car filled with gunmen approaching the troops and reported a hit.
Zahar accused Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of complicity in his son's death. "This is the hope of Abu Mazen and his colleagues, the collaborators with Israel and the spies of America," Zahar said, referring to Abbas by his nickname. Hamas, he vowed, will respond to Tuesday's raid "in the appropriate way. We will defend ourselves by all means."
Another of Zahar's sons was killed in a botched Israeli assassination attempt against the elder Zahar in his home three years ago.
MK Taleb A-Sanaa (UAL) called the IDF operation "a war crime." "Israel received the green light for attacks in Gaza from [US President George W.] Bush during his visit last week. He allegedly came to promote peace but he promoted war," he said.
Meanwhile, Hamas claimed responsibility for the killing of a foreign volunteer in a western Negev kibbutz on Tuesday morning. 20-year-old Carlos Andres Muscara Chavez from Quito, Ecuador, was working in a potato field in Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, near the central Gaza Strip, when he was shot by a Palestinian sniper.
Palestinians also fired 25 Kassam rockets and mortar shells at the western Negev. Four people were lightly wounded.
“It’s all Bush’s fault!”
Who knew? Khaled Mashaal is a liberal democrat!
Yeah, and Bush is also responsible for bad breath, sun spots, price of oil, and Britney Spears.
And what was the cause of missiles raining down on Israel at the rate of one every thirty minutes over the last six months you ass?
These guys go postal if Israel sends one missile in, and they shoot them off at Israel constantly. While Israel's are more effective, the Palestinian missiles kill people all the time.
I wish President Bush WAS promoting war with the Pali brutes. Unfortunately, he’s trying to sell out the Israelis instead.
Wow! GW has special powers even as a lame duck!
Newp Newp Newp!
No WAY it is Bush's fault!
Absolutely NOT!
There's NO F***'n WAY that anything is Bush's fault!
This is just so much Barbara Streisand, it is unbelievable.
Blame America and you get flamed!
NOTHING is America's fault, you got that, Taleb A-Sanaa ?
Good for Bushy. He should go back and do some more good work.
Maybe he should visit more often?!
I had bad gas the other day. I thought it was the beans I had eaten, but now that i think about it, it was probably Bush’s fault.
BUT Lets apply the same standard to Barack Obama who campaigned for Odinga in 2006,. Its his fault that hundreds of kenyans were raped, murdered and maimed in Nairobi, as Odinga/Obama's Luo tribe went on a rampage, as incited by Obamas earlier canmpaign and Obamas black nationalism background.
Obama is an International criminal directlly responsible for the deaths of the men women and children burned alive in their church by Odingas Islamofascist Socialist party Operatives
Why change this approach. I kinda like it!
Yup, great article.
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT
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Well, if Bush was responsible, good for him!
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