A Hamas leader, Abdel Aziz al Rantisi, affirmed that he had not heard of Saudi pressure on his movement or on Islamic Jihad to halt the martyrdom operations inside Israel denying Israeli reports about this issue.
He said in an interview with Albawaba.com that such operations were the only effective response to the Israeli aggression. He noted that the latest operation south of Tel Aviv deterred the Israeli aggression and protected the Palestinians in Gaza strip reiterating that these operations are the only guarantee to prevent the bloodshed of Muslims.
On the other hand, Rantisi reiterated that national unity among Palestinians is still consolidated despite the recent misuse of power by the Palestinian Authority related to Nativity Church siege and Zeevi killers issues.
Following are excerpts from the interview:
Q. After the Israeli massing of troops around Gaza, they said they would review the situation. Would you be concerned if Israel substitutes an extensive operation by assassination operations against Palestinian organizations and movements members?
A. First of all I would like to point out that the most important factor that deterred Israel from invading Gaza was Tel Aviv operation which led to the collapse of Sharon’s Defensive Shield operation. Sharon cannot make lies to his people any more and tell them that his attacks on the West Bank were launched to stop the martyrdom operations. This is another evidence on Sharon’s failure. What will he tell the Israelis when he invades Gaza? Therefore the heroic martyrdom operations are the ones which deterred Sharon from invading Gaza and so safeguarded our blood.
Q. Do you expect an Israeli invasion of Gaza in the near future?
A. This Zionist enemy is a bloody one that can be deterred only when he is afraid. I would say that martyrdom operations proved that Israelis should pay high price for every drop of Palestinian blood. The Israelis claimed that their plan for invading Gaza was uncovered while they did not say the same about their plan to invade the West Bank, which was surrounded with the same circumstances. Their claim is nothing but an excuse to justify the confusion among their political and military leaders in the aftermath of Tel Aviv operation.
Q. What are your comments about the demands of Arab states and from within the Palestinian Authority for halting the martyrdom operations which seem to harm the Palestinian cause?
A. The Palestinian negotiators have failed in achieving anything. Why do they want to stop the only effective tool and the resistance of the Palestinian people? I want an answer on this question from the Arab and Islamic nations and the Palestinian Authority. If they have no answer, they should at least keep silent.
Q. It seems there is a crack now in the Palestinian national unity and in the relations between the various Palestinian factions after the siege on Arafat was lifted. How do you describe the situation now?
A. I can simply say that Palestinian unity was evident during the first and second Intifada but it was disrupted during negotiations and when the PA arrested the Palestinian fighters.
The PA actions which led to extraditing the fighters who killed the Israeli Minister of Tourism, Rahbaam Zeevi, and the other fighters who were jailed at the Palestinian Preventive Security headquarters in Bitonia in addition to deporting the fighters who were under siege at the Nativity Church have in fact cracked the Palestinian unity. We are very keen on preventing fight between Palestinians so that all our guns will be used against the enemy. Hamas does not want to engage in an internal conflict in order to safeguard our people.
Fighting and resistance lead to national unity while negotiations, diplomacy and moving between Madrid, Cairo, Taba and Camp David destroys this unity. (Albawaba.com)
