Arab states to ask UN to condemn Rantisi killing
HA'ARETZ SERVICE and NEWS AGENCIES
Ha'aretz, 19 april 2004
The United Nations Security Council set an emergency meeting on the Middle East on Monday at the request of Arab nations following Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi on Saturday, and a major policy announcement Wednesday by U.S. President George W. Bush.
Arab nations planned to ask the 15-nation council to adopt a resolution condemning the killing of Rantisi, said Arab League envoy Yahya Mahmassani. Rantisi died after an Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at a car in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has threatened 100 revenge attacks in retaliation.
Diplomats said the Security Council would issue a statement condemning the killing, but it was not known if the decision-making body would discuss adopting a resolution.
The United States vetoed a similar resolution on March 25 that sought to condemn Israel for assassinating Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, arguing it should also denounce Hamas for suicide bombings in Israel.
A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a statement late Saturday reiterating the UN leader's view that such "extrajudicial killings" violate international law.
Meanwhile, Hamas political leader Khaled Mashal on Monday called for an Arab and Muslim alliance to defeat the United States and Israel.
"Our battle is with two sides: One of them is the strongest power in the world, the United States, and the second is the strongest power in the region [Israel]," he told hundreds of people at the al-Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp near Damascus.
"That is the caliber of the battle. We will not be victorious unless the other side of the battle is Arab and Muslim."
Mashal, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in 1997 in Jordan, said Hamas would avenge the killing of the group's spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin on March 22 and Gaza leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi on Saturday.
Mashal has suggested that U.S. President George W. Bush's unprecedented support for Israel encouraged Sharon to kill Rantisi. "What Bush told Sharon in the White House three days ago is the clearest green light and cover for Sharon's crimes and for what has happened to Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi," Mashal said. "Thus, it [the United States] is the one responsible for this crime."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair denounced Rantisi's assassination Monday, saying, "We condemn the targeted assassination of Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz al Rantissi just as we condemn all terrorism, including that perpetrated by Hamas."
Blair also said the latest Israeli plans to keep parts of the West Bank while withdrawing settlements from the Gaza Strip should not prejudge final-status issues such as the borders of a Palestinian state.
"Those final-status negotiations, when they come, cannot ignore the reality on the ground, but all issues are to be decided in that negotiation," he said.
Following talks with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the White House last Wednesday, Bush announced his support for Israel's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip while retaining some West Bank settlement blocs, and rejected any right of return of Palestinian refugees to Israel.
The Bush administration denounced Hamas on Monday as a terrorist organization that should be "put out of business."
Over time the Palestinian government should shut down Hamas and provide Palestinians with the social services that Hamas offers them, spokesman Richard Boucher said.
Taking the approach it usually does when Israel strikes, the State Department said Israel had a right to defend itself but also should consider the consequences of its actions.
Asked if the administration opposed targeted assassinations, Boucher said U.S. policy had not changed. He referred to past statements admonishing Israel for eliminating leaders of groups such as Hamas, which has carried out suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.
Boucher said Hamas was a terrorist organization and Abdel Aziz Rantisi, who was killed in an Israeli helicopter strike on Saturday, was a leader of the group.
"We especially consider groups that are actively blowing up people to be terrorist organizations," Boucher said. "We are looking for people to put Hamas out of business."
But the administration also was concerned about the impact on Middle East peacemaking now that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has recommitted his support for President George W. Bush's backing of a Palestinian state, Boucher said.
Hoping to make headway, Secretary of State Colin Powell had been expecting to meet in Washington on Wednesday with Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, but Shaath announced Saturday he was canceling the trip.
John Kerry suppots Sharon-Bush agreement
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Sunday said he supported Bush's endorsement of Sharon's disengagement plan.
Asked about the assassination Saturday of Rantisi, Kerry echoed the White House by expressing support for Israel's efforts to try to be secure.
"I believe Israel has every right in the world to react to terror threats against it," Kerry said on Sunday in an interview to NBC television.
Kerry also said the moment Hamas would abandon the path of terror and would prove it is willing to negotiate, it would find a partner in the Israeli side.