Kofi Annan "Concerned" by Israel`s Targeted Killings of Palestinian in West Bank & Gaza
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan cautioned Israel early Wednesday over its policy of targeted killings of suspected terrorists.
"The Secretary-General has noted with concern that in recent days Israel has conducted several targeted killings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip," Annan`s office said in a statement.
"While recognizing Israel`s right to defend its citizens, targeted killings place innocent bystanders at grave risk and amount to executions without trial."
Annan added that he views "with concern the repeated rocket attacks against Israel emanating from the Gaza Strip" and urges Israel and the Palestinians "to refrain from actions that could lead to an escalation of violence."
Israel killed two Fatah operatives in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, thereby bringing the number of wanted Palestinians killed in targeted killings in Gaza since Saturday night to nine.
In a separate incident in Nablus, a senior Islamic Jihad operative was killed during an attempt to arrest him. Two Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded in the incident. In addition, four Qassam rockets fired from Gaza landed in Israel.
The assassination in Gaza took place at about 5 P.M. According to Palestinian eyewitnesses, Israel Air Force vessels fired missiles at a car in Gaza City carrying Mohammed Abu Sharia, 34, a senior member of the Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, and his aide, Suheil Abu Bakker, 29. Both were killed instantly. According to the Shin Bet security service, Abu Sharia ran a cell that launched Qassams at Israel.
Since Saturday night, Israel has conducted four air strikes on Gaza, all aimed at Qassam-launching cells. These strikes have killed seven Fatah operatives and two from Islamic Jihad; thus far, no civilians have been killed. Israel is not targeting Hamas, which is currently forbidding its members to participate in Qassam launches.
Israel`s stepped-up assault on the Qassam crews is a response to last Friday`s Qassam launch at Kibbutz Carmiya, which moderately wounded a baby and lightly wounded three of his relatives. Military sources said Tuesday night that the targeted killings would continue as part of a broader military operation aimed at curtailing Qassam launches.
As another element of this effort, the Israel Defense Forces have resumed enforcing a "no man`s land" in northern Gaza that Palestinians are not allowed to enter. This area, the site of three former Israeli settlements, has been a favorite launch site for Qassam crews. In addition, artillery batteries have fired hundreds of shells into northern Gaza and the IAF has bombed roads leading to the area.
Thus far, however, the operation appears to have achieved limited results: Four Qassams were launched into Israel on Tuesday, and the numbers were similar in previous days. Military sources responded that the army is trying to deter the terrorist organizations, but cannot completely end the Qassam fire.
None of Tuesday`s Qassams resulted in casualties, but one rocket landed in the courtyard of a house in Sderot, causing property damage. That rocket was fired by Islamic Jihad, apparently in response to the predawn killing of senior operative Ahmed Ghadad, 35, in Nablus on Tuesday. Two other rockets landed in Netiv Ha`asara.
Ghadad, who headed the city`s Islamic Jihad network for the past few months, was killed during a battle that erupted when IDF soldiers came to arrest him. According to the IDF, the soldiers surrounded Ghadad`s house and called on any civilians inside to leave. But as Ghadad`s wife and children were coming out, Ghadad opened fire at the soldiers, wounding one. His comrades returned fire, and in the subsequent battle, Ghadad was killed and an IDF officer was wounded.
Defense officials said that Ghadad was involved, among other attacks, in last month`s suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, which wounded 31 people, and in a gun battle that killed soldier Dan Talasnikov last May.
Colonel Yuval Bazak, commander of the Samaria (Nablus) Brigade, said that aside from Islamic Jihad, Fatah terror cells also have stepped up their activity in the northern West Bank. "Ever since Fatah lost the [Palestinian] elections, organization members have returned to attacks full force," he said.
Meanwhile, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss warned the Knesset State Control Committee on Tuesday that any further delay in fortifying communities within Qassam range of Gaza is liable to lead to loss of life.
Following the meeting, the committee called on Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to resign over his ministry`s foot-dragging on this issue.
(08/02/2006)
