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Israel Braces for Retaliation
Thursday, July 25, 2002
The Associated Press

Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath said that even if Arafat appoints a prime minister after a Palestinian state is created, it would not “limit the authorities” of Arafat.

JERUSALEM -- AP
Suspected Palestinian gunmen shot and killed an Israeli motorist early Thursday as Israel's foreign minister warned that civilians would likely “pay dearly” for the airstrike that killed a top Palestinian militant and 14 others.

The motorist, a rabbi, was killed and another person seriously injured after gunmen opened fire on their car near the Jewish settlement of Elei Zahav, south of the Palestinian town of Qalqilya in the West Bank, rescue officials and the military said.

The gunfire, coming from the nearby Palestinian village of Burkin, continued after rescue crews arrived and only stopped after Israeli tanks arrived and returned fire, medic Avner Mullah told Israel Radio.

Military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said tracks from the scene led to Burkin and that troops were questioning residents.

The shooting came as Israelis braced for promised retaliation from the militant group Hamas following the bombing early Tuesday in Gaza City that killed Hamas military leader Salah Shehadeh and 14 others, including nine children.

“I know that there is very serious escalation,” Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told Israel Army Radio. “I fear that innocent people will pay for it dearly.”

A day earlier, he called the strike a “mistake,” and said, “I cannot explain mistakes.”

He admitted knowing that the Palestinian Authority had been conducting negotiations with various militant groups, including Hamas, aimed at forging a cease-fire. But he said that not all factions were on board and that it wasn't worth talking about since the agreement hadn't been finalized.
(More: Arab World News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

Dan