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Lebell · 04-17-2004, 11:37 AM

Please post the stories whenever possible, not just links.

Thanks!

(edit: no worries)
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Top Hamas Leader Rantissi Killed in Israeli Raid
21 minutes ago Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - An Israeli helicopter missile strike on a car in Gaza City killed top Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi on Saturday.

Witnesses said two of Rantissi's bodyguards were also killed in the attack in which two missiles were fired.

Medics said Rantissi, 56, Hamas's leader in the Palestinian militant group's Gaza Strip (news - web sites) stronghold, had been rushed to a Gaza City hospital in critical condition after the attack. Sources said he had been wounded in the head with shrapnel.

Hundreds of Hamas members and supporters flooded to the hospital after news of the Israeli raid.

In chaotic scenes, a crowd of Palestinians swarmed around the wreckage of the white car, pulling out what appeared to be fragments of clothing.

Hamas, which has been behind scores of suicide attacks against Israel in a 3 1/2-year old Palestinian uprising and has pledged to destroy the Jewish state, issued an immediate vow of revenge.

"Israel will regret this. Revenge is coming," senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniya told reporters at the hospital.

"This blood will not be wasted. It is our fate in Hamas and it is our fate as Palestinians to die as martyrs. The battle will not weaken our determination or break our will," he said.

Rantissi, a co-founder of Hamas, had become one of its two main leaders since Israel's killing of Hamas spiritual head Ahmed Yassin in Gaza on March 22.

SUICIDE BOMBING

The air strike occurred hours after an Israeli border policeman was killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber at the main Erez crossing on the Israeli-Gaza border.

The killing of Rantissi occurred against the backdrop of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) winning U.S. backing for a unilateral Gaza pullout plan.

Palestinian anger has mounted over President Bush (news - web sites)'s related decisions this week to allow the Jewish state to keep some parts of the West Bank and reject any right of return for Palestinian refugees to what is now Israel.

"I completely condemn this Israeli crime of cold blooded killing in front of the whole world, while America gives it bits of our land and our refugees' rights," said a senior member of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat (news - web sites)'s Palestinian Authority (news - web sites).

"The mercy of God upon Rantissi... Israel commits crimes and is rewarded by the American president. When it commits state terrorism, it gets promises," cabinet minister Nabil Shaath told Arabic television station Al Jazeera.

The Arab world joined in the condemnation. "It is state terrorism and this is clear proof that Israel cannot live in a climate of stability," said Hossam Zaki, official spokesman for the Arab League in Cairo.

No immediate comment was available from Israel on Rantissi's killing.

Israel has been vowing to kill leaders of Hamas because of its attacks against the Jewish state.

It tried to kill Rantissi, public face of a Palestinian militant group that normally stays in the shadows, last June.

On that occasion he and his teenage son were wounded in an Israeli helicopter missile strike on his car, also in Gaza City.

Rantissi had refused to go into hiding like many of his comrades on Israel's wanted list since Hamas launched a suicide bombing campaign to spearhead the Palestinian uprising.

He had long depicted himself as a Hamas politician with no links to the military wing.

But Israel had refused to accept the distinction, accusing him of being a top decision-maker on attacks and of using his media role to incite violence.

With Rantissi filling the role of Hamas spokesman, camera crews from around the world had trooped to his modestly furnished living room to hear him issue vows of revenge, often in calm, even tones, for Israel's killing of militants.

04-17-2004, 11:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lebell Cracking the Whip Location: Sexymama's arms...	Please post the stories whenever possible, not just links. Thanks! (edit: no worries) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Top Hamas Leader Rantissi Killed in Israeli Raid 21 minutes ago Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo! By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - An Israeli helicopter missile strike on a car in Gaza City killed top Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi on Saturday. Witnesses said two of Rantissi's bodyguards were also killed in the attack in which two missiles were fired. Medics said Rantissi, 56, Hamas's leader in the Palestinian militant group's Gaza Strip (news - web sites) stronghold, had been rushed to a Gaza City hospital in critical condition after the attack. Sources said he had been wounded in the head with shrapnel. Hundreds of Hamas members and supporters flooded to the hospital after news of the Israeli raid. In chaotic scenes, a crowd of Palestinians swarmed around the wreckage of the white car, pulling out what appeared to be fragments of clothing. Hamas, which has been behind scores of suicide attacks against Israel in a 3 1/2-year old Palestinian uprising and has pledged to destroy the Jewish state, issued an immediate vow of revenge. "Israel will regret this. Revenge is coming," senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniya told reporters at the hospital. "This blood will not be wasted. It is our fate in Hamas and it is our fate as Palestinians to die as martyrs. The battle will not weaken our determination or break our will," he said. Rantissi, a co-founder of Hamas, had become one of its two main leaders since Israel's killing of Hamas spiritual head Ahmed Yassin in Gaza on March 22. SUICIDE BOMBING The air strike occurred hours after an Israeli border policeman was killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber at the main Erez crossing on the Israeli-Gaza border. The killing of Rantissi occurred against the backdrop of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) winning U.S. backing for a unilateral Gaza pullout plan. Palestinian anger has mounted over President Bush (news - web sites)'s related decisions this week to allow the Jewish state to keep some parts of the West Bank and reject any right of return for Palestinian refugees to what is now Israel. "I completely condemn this Israeli crime of cold blooded killing in front of the whole world, while America gives it bits of our land and our refugees' rights," said a senior member of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat (news - web sites)'s Palestinian Authority (news - web sites). "The mercy of God upon Rantissi... Israel commits crimes and is rewarded by the American president. When it commits state terrorism, it gets promises," cabinet minister Nabil Shaath told Arabic television station Al Jazeera. The Arab world joined in the condemnation. "It is state terrorism and this is clear proof that Israel cannot live in a climate of stability," said Hossam Zaki, official spokesman for the Arab League in Cairo. No immediate comment was available from Israel on Rantissi's killing. Israel has been vowing to kill leaders of Hamas because of its attacks against the Jewish state. It tried to kill Rantissi, public face of a Palestinian militant group that normally stays in the shadows, last June. On that occasion he and his teenage son were wounded in an Israeli helicopter missile strike on his car, also in Gaza City. Rantissi had refused to go into hiding like many of his comrades on Israel's wanted list since Hamas launched a suicide bombing campaign to spearhead the Palestinian uprising. He had long depicted himself as a Hamas politician with no links to the military wing. But Israel had refused to accept the distinction, accusing him of being a top decision-maker on attacks and of using his media role to incite violence. With Rantissi filling the role of Hamas spokesman, camera crews from around the world had trooped to his modestly furnished living room to hear him issue vows of revenge, often in calm, even tones, for Israel's killing of militants. __________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate! Last edited by Lebell; 04-17-2004 at 05:11 PM..