|
Hamas vows to continue fight after pullout
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-13 20:01
For the first time in a decade, the founders and top political leaders of
Hamas gathered on the same stage Saturday, vowing to go on fighting Israel and
claiming victory for its impending withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, reported AP.
In a direct challenge to the Palestinian Authority, the militant groups' top
brass said it rejects the idea of a sole decision-making body for the area and
insists it has the right to possess weapons.
Tensions between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have heated up in the
days before Israel begins its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank
settlements, with each trying to claim victory for the pullout.
Masked Palestinian Hamas militants jump over
burning tires during a training session in Jebaliya in the northern Gaza
Strip, early Friday, Aug. 12, 2005. [AP] | On Saturday, Hamas leaders positioned themselves in front of the group's logo
and a green Islamic flag to send a message that they have the right to possess
weapons and to claim responsibility for pushing Israel out of the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas news conference comes just a day after the Palestinian Authority
held its first official celebration 锟斤拷 with the attendance of Palestinian leader
Mahmoud Abbas 锟斤拷 of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank
settlements.
Speakers at Friday's ceremony made it clear that all celebrations of the
withdrawal would take place under the official Palestinian banner 锟斤拷 the red,
black, green and white flag 锟斤拷 a message to Hamas.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians on Friday crowded Gaza City's small harbor
to celebrate the withdrawal, waving flags and hearing promises from their leader
that the West Bank and Jerusalem will be next.
Abbas, surrounded by security guards, told the crowd: "From here, from this
place, our nation and our masses are walking toward the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."
Yet tensions between Abbas and the militant group Hamas became apparent when
Cabinet minister Mohammed Dahlan said the Palestinian flag must be the official
banner at all celebrations. He did not refer to Hamas directly, but the group
has said it plans its own military-style celebrations, and is sewing thousands
of its own green banners.
"This era is the era of unity, and the era that will end any competition or
disagreement," Dahlan told the crowd.
Hamas, on Friday, invited TV cameramen for the first time to film about 1,000
militants training ahead of the pullout. The release of the pictures of
militants rappelling from high-rise walls and jumping through hoops of fire was
seen as a challenge to the Palestinian Authority.
But it was unclear whether the training 锟斤拷 which included the infiltration and
attack of a Jewish settlement 锟斤拷 meant the group would fire on withdrawing
Israeli troops and settlers, despite demands by the Palestinian leadership that
they allow Israel to evacuate the area quietly.
Israel is to begin its withdrawal from Jewish settlements in Gaza early
Monday and later pull out of four West Bank settlements. The Israeli Defense
Ministry said Friday it wants to complete the withdrawal by Sept. 4.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suggested in an interview published
Friday that Israel could eventually relinquish more West Bank settlements. He
reiterated, however, that Israel would keep major West Bank settlement blocs.
"Not everything will be there. The issue will be raised during the final status
talks with the Palestinians," Sharon told the Yediot Ahronot newspaper.
Sharon said he is convinced the withdrawal from Gaza will benefit Israel in
the long run. "I have no regrets," he told Yediot. "Even if I had known the
level of (settler) resistance, I would have done it."
When Sharon decided more than a year ago to withdraw from Gaza, captured 38
years ago, he reasoned that would make it easier for Israel to hold on to the
major West Bank settlement blocs, where most of the 240,000 settlers live. In
all, 9,000 settlers are to be uprooted.
|
 | | | Japanese PM launches general election campaign | | |  | | | Katrina slams US Gulf Coast, oil rigs adrift | | |  | | | Japan's 6 parties square off in TV debate | | |
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top World
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
