Source: Compiled by Daily Star, 23-5-2007
"Israel" said on Tuesday it could target Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyya of Hamas and that a Gaza ground offensive was possible unless world pressure was brought on the Islamic group to halt rocket fire. The threat delayed a meeting between Haniyya and President Mahmoud Abbas, who arrived in Gaza to discuss maintaining law and order and perhaps resuming a Gaza truce with "Israel".
A Fatah official said the uncertain security situation meant no time was yet set for the meeting. He added that a meeting between Hamas and Fatah officials to discuss similar issues was also called off because of "Israel`s" threat against Hamas.
Asked if Haniyya was on "Israel`s" hit-list, Deputy Defense (War) Minister Ephraim Sneh said: "I`ll put it like this - there is no one who is in the circle of commanders and leaders in Hamas who is immune from a strike."
"The political branch of Hamas gives its green light to those firing rockets," he claimed. "When someone preaches that the state of `Israel` should be destroyed, he is not in the political echelon, he is a terrorist in a suit."
Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official, said in response in Gaza: "Any harm to Prime Minister Haniyya or any Hamas leader would mean a change in the rules of the game and the occupation [`Israel`] must be ready to pay an unprecedented price."
US State Department spokesman Tom Casey urged "Israel" to weigh the consequences "both in terms of the possibilities for continued political dialogue as well as what other kinds of reactions there might be."