Hamas and Israel: Back to the Future?.............

              



“Israel has assassinated a senior Hamas military commander in Dubai, an official in the Palestinian Islamist group said on Friday. Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was killed on Jan. 20, Izzat al-Rishq told Reuters in the Syrian capital Damascus. "Mabhuh died a martyr in Dubai on January 20, 2010 in suspect circumstances that require an inquiry in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates authorities," Hamas said in a statement released in its Gaza stronghold. "We hold Israel responsible for the assassination of our brother and leader," the statement said, adding Hamas would "retaliate for this Zionist crime at the appropriate moment." There was no immediate Israeli reaction to the allegation, which gave no details on exactly how he died." Mabhuh died a martyr in Dubai on January 20, 2010 in suspect circumstances that require an inquiry in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates authorities " Rishq said Mabhouh was an "important" member of Izz el-Deen al- Qassam brigades, Hamas's military wing named after a Syrian religious leader who fought British colonial forces in Palestine in the 1930s…………”

It looks like the Israelis are going back to their old method of decimating Hamas: assassination of top leaders. They have used this method against Hezbollah as well, but with less success.
This may complicate their public and secret relations with some Arab states. It will also complicate relations of all three side with Europe if this assassination war heats up.
Cheers
mhg

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