Days after assassination of Yassin, violence persists

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 26, 2004

Days after assassination of Yassin, violence persists

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Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinians in Gaza late Thursday, the latest eruption of simmering tension between Israel and the Palestinians since Israel's assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin in aMonday air strike.

The Israeli military said three Palestinians opened fire on an army outpost and a civilian vehicle at a Jewish settlement. In a heavy exchange of fire, the three were killed.

Palestinians said they believed the three were Hamas members and were clearly trying to carry out an armed attack in revenge for the death of their leader.

Hamas has repeatedly said to hit back for Israel's assassination of Yassin and marking Israeli Prime Minster Ariel Sharon as a target.

On Thursday, Izzedine Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, issued a rare videotaped statement, threatening "a strong, earthshaking response."

It also claimed responsibility for destroying an Israeli army bulldozer during an Israeli incursion into a refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip.

The group said a homemade anti-tank rocket had directly hit theIsraeli army bulldozer, adding that the Palestinian militants managed to defeat the Israeli army that raided the refuge camp.

Israel Radio also reported Thursday that five Jewish settlers were injured in separate shooting attacks carried out by Palestinian militants in different parts of Gaza and the West Bank.

The radio said that the Israeli security forces had intensifiedits security presence inside Israel and near the Israeli army posts and Jewish settlements in a bid to prevent any attacks by militants.

While the attacks and deaths continue, the United States Thursday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israel for the assassination of Yassin. The US complained that the text did not mention Hamas attacks against Israelis.

Palestinians also divided over ways to deal with the current situation.

Some Palestinians are questioning whether violent resistance has done them more harm than good.

On Thursday, a group of respected Palestinians put a half-page advertisement in the Al-Ayyam newspaper calling on Palestinians tolay down their arms and turn to peaceful means of protest toward ending Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The intellectuals who signed the advertisement, including peaceadvocate lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi and Abbas Zaki, a leading member of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, said revenge attacks over Yassin's assassination would lead to strong Israeli retaliation and further hurt the Palestinian cause.

The group called on the public to "rise again in a peaceful, wise uprising."

But some Palestinians doubted that the advertisement would be greeted with a similar call for restraint by Israelis, noting thatIsrael has announced plans to kill all Hamas leaders.

"We had many previous experiences with the Israelis. There was a truce with Israel, but Israel has not stopped its aggression," areport here quoted Ahmed Radi, 32, as saying.

Since violence erupted in September 2000, 2,762 people have been killed on the Palestinian side and 942 on the Israeli side.

An Israeli delegation, including Sharon's top aide Dov Weisglass and national security adviser Giora Eiland, is in Washington this week to discuss with US officials the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. US envoys are also expected in Israel next week for another round of talks.

Source: Xinhua

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