Palestinian Authority arrests Hamas leader Rantisi

In this story:

• Leaflet demands leaders resign
• Hamas popular among Palestinians
• Legislator warns of 'civil war'

April 9, 1998
Web posted at: 8:26 p.m. EDT (0026 GMT)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (CNN) -- Palestinian officials announced Thursday they have arrested Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi after the group issued a leaflet demanding the resignation of officials in Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority.

Palestinian police chief Ghazi Jibali said Rantisi was being held at a Gaza police station.

"Rantisi has been taken for questioning regarding statements made against our national interests and the Palestinian Authority," Jibali said. He did not say when Rantisi would be released.

The leaflet accuses the Palestinian Authority of collaborating with Israel in the death of Hamas bomb maker Muhyideen Sharif and demands the resignation of several Palestinian leaders.

The leaflet specifically identified Tayeb Abdel-Rahim, general-secretary of the Palestinian Presidency, and West Bank Preventive Security chief Jibril Rajoub.

"The Authority must ... remove all those involved in the crime of assassinating the holy fighter Muhyideen al-Sharif for the sake of the Zionist enemy," the leaflet said. "(It must also) remove those involved in the scandal of fabricating accusations against the heroes of the movement."

Sharif was found dead March 29 in an industrial section of the West Bank city of Ramallah where a car bomb had gone off. Investigators for the Palestinian Authority concluded that Sharif had been shot and killed in a power struggle within Hamas, and that the car was blown up to hide the evidence.

Hamas popular among Palestinians

In an interview with an Israeli radio station Thursday, Rantisi accused Palestinian investigators of using torture to extract information on Sharif's death from jailed Hamas activists.

But Rajoub called the accusations lies and said Hamas had refused to cooperate with the Palestinian Authority's investigation.

Rajoub also dismissed a Hamas videotape released Wednesday, in which a masked man accuses the Palestinian Authority -- and Rajoub in particular -- of whitewashing Israel's alleged involvement in Sharif's death. Rajoub called it "not a respectable way for Hamas to deal with things."

Abdel-Rahim said recent Hamas statements were "aimed at muddling the investigation being carried out by the Palestinian Authority and to divert attention from the person in Hamas who is responsible for internal killings."

He has promised a public trial of the five members of Hamas' armed wing, Izzedine al Qassam, who were detained after Sharif's death.

Israel, which has demanded that the Palestinian Authority work to prevent terrorist attacks, has been on high alert since Hamas said it would avenge Sharif's death with bloodshed.

Hamas opposes Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, and its military wing has claimed responsibility for killing scores of Israelis in suicide attacks aimed at undermining the peace talks.

Legislator warns of 'civil war'

Despite accusing Palestinian security officials of complicity with Israel in Sharif's death, however, Izzedine al Qassam has threatened to carry out revenge attacks only against Israel.

Hamas, which is Arafat's fiercest critic, is popular among Palestinians for its charity work running day care centers and health clinics.

Palestinian legislator Hatem Abdel Khader said Thursday there should be a new investigation of Sharif's death.

"It is clear to me that the Palestinian Authority is not responsible for Sharif's death," Kader said. "But all the same, I believe the Authority and Hamas should together re-examine the whole issue so as to avoid a civil war amongst us, and more bloodshed on all fronts."

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

 

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• Message Board:Struggle for peace in the Middle East

Related stories:

• Hamas rejects Palestinian finding on bomb maker's death - April 6, 1998
• Israel to Arafat: We didn't kill master bomber - April 3, 1998
• Hamas vows revenge after master bomber allegedly assassinated - April 1, 1998
• Israel: No pullbacks without Palestinian security commitments - March 29, 1998

Related sites:

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• Official HAMAS Website - Arabic
• Unofficial HAMAS Website - English
• The Charter of the Hamas
• Israeli Foreign Ministry - information about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as recent developments in Israel
• Palestinian National Authority - official site of the PNA
• The Palestine Ministry Of Information - press releases, daily news and other information

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