Israel Matzav

Ze'evi Assassins to be Released

This is what happens when no one fears you anymore. In one of its first actions as the new controlling party in the Palestinian Authority, Hamas intends to release the assassins of former Israeli Minister Rechavam Ze'evi HY"D. Ze'evi was assassinated at the Hyatt Hotel in Jerusalem (about a five-minute drive from my home) on October 17, 2001. The Israeli government is furious. But what will they do? Will they target the assassins? Will they target a Hamas target (the assassins are from the PFLP) for good measure? Or will they blow up some more empty buildings and fields in Gaza?

Here's the story from Arutz Sheva:

Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz warned that such a move would bring about a severe Israeli response, but declined to outline what such a response would include. "This is a blatant violation of the agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) and we will not let this pass," Mofaz said. "Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas must intervene immediately to stop this."

Fifty prisoners were released from the same Jericho prison last week, with no comment from Abbas.

...

One of the other prisoners to be released is Fuad Shubaki, formerly Yassir Arafat's financial adviser. Shubaki was responsible for funding suicide bomb attacks against Israeli civilians and arranging the purchase of the large weapons cache seized by the IDF aboard the Karin A ship in January 2002.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:02 AM