Israeli security forces are on high alert in fear of possible attacks by Palestinian armed activists. This is following calls for revenge declared Monday by Palestinian groups after Israel had killed local Tanzim leader in the city of Tulkarem.
However, Palestine Radio reported Monday night that a spokesman on behalf of Yasser Arafat’ Fatah had released a statement rejecting Israeli media reports that the movement had canceled the cease-fire declared by the Palestinian leader last month.
The spokesman said that despite the killing Monday of a prominent Fatah Tanzim member in Tul Karm, Raed al Karmi Fatah would continue to follow the Palestinian truce policy.
Earlier Monday, The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, claimed responsibility for killing one Israeli soldier and moderately wounding an officer in a drive-by shooting near the West Bank city of Nablus.
After al Karmi was killed, the Al Aqsa Brigades vowed that it would resume attacks on Israelis, which had been suspended following Arafat's call for a truce with Israel on Dec. 16.
"The so-called cease-fire is a joke and is canceled, canceled, canceled," the group wrote in a leaflet. "Revenge is coming." Threating the Israelis the leaflet said "With your assassination of Raed al Karmi, you have opened hell on yourselves. You will be burned by its fire."
A spate of shooting incidents erupted in the area after al Karmi was killed Monday morning. According to Haaretz, the shooting incidents took place near a Border Police post in Tulkarem and near an occupation post south of Nablus. Shots were also fired at an Israeli car north of Ramallah. During an exchange of fire between the Israelis and Palestinians near Tulkarem, bullets hit several houses in Bat Hefer and Nitzanei Oz, Jewish settlements close to the Green Line Border. No injuries were reported as a result of the shooting attacks.
Sharon Comments
Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that the Palestinian Authority was responsible for the killings Monday. "The terror activities indicate the Palestinian Authority's policy, that has not stopped carrying our terror attacks even for one day," Sharon said.
On the killing of Raed al Karmi, Sharon said "we all know how many murders [Karmi] committed in the last year. Karmi belonged to Tanzim and Fatah forces, who are under the absolute authority of [Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser] Arafat."
Sharon told a Likud faction meeting Monday afternoon that he had "first heard of the death of Tanzim activist Raed al Karmi on the radio, and I have nothing further to add." No Israeli source has claimed responsibility for the assassination. However, there was also no denial of the Palestinian accusations that Israel was responsible for his death.
Abed Rabbo
For his Part, Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said Monday that the killing of al Karmi presented a new escalation in violence. "It is an invitation by the Israeli government to a suicide attack on the part of some Palestinian extremists, " Abed Rabbo warned. "This is more than playing with fire, it is a clear representation of Sharon and the Israeli government's intentions." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
