Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Israel Minister Calls for Killing of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniya

Middle East Online, February 4, 2009 - An Israeli cabinet minister publicly called on Wednesday for the assassination of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, whose democratically elected government controls the Gaza Strip.

"The next step in our operations should be the elimination of the terrorist Haniya," Housing Minister Zeev Boim of the centre-right Kadima party told military radio.

"This is the only way to end the rocket fire against Israel," said Boim, who has no authority on security decisions.

Israel has assassinated a large number of Hamas officials in the past, most notably its spiritual guide and founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who was handicapped in a wheelchair, in 2004.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert threatened on Tuesday "the severest riposte" against Gaza after a rocket was fired on an Israeli town, which was in retaliation to Israeli attacks after the new ceasefire.

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