`all Hell Will Break Loose' Pledge After Leader Assassinated
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday August 28, 2001
Israel risked taking its conflict with the Palestinians to a dangerous new level yesterday by assassinating a top PLO political leader.
Palestinian officials immediately condemned the killing of Mr Abu Ali Mustafa, 63, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and warned that Israel would pay a heavy price.
``This is crossing all red lines," said a Palestinian Cabinet minister, Mr Saeb Erekat. Israel's Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, was inviting ``hell to break loose".
``Abu Ali Mustafa is a very prominent political leader, and we hold the Israeli Government responsible for this act of state terrorism."
Mr Nabil Abu Rudeinah, a spokesman for the Palestinian leader, Mr Yasser Arafat, issued a similar warning. ``This policy of assassinations, which is being conducted with a green light from the United States, will push the area into a new cycle of violence and danger."
The assassination of Mr Mustafa in the West Bank town of Ramallah marked the highest level killing of a Palestinian political leader during nearly a year of clashes.
The operation would have required the consent of Mr Sharon.
Mr Mustafa died when missiles fired by Israeli military helicopters slammed into his office, blowing out the windows and blackening the outside of the building.
The Israeli Army justified the killing. It said in a statement: ``Contrary to his promises, he continued with terrorist activities and was responsible for dozens of attacks on Israel."
The PFLP was responsible for a car bomb placed near the Russian compound area in Jerusalem last week and a bomb hidden in a watermelon that was placed on a Jerusalem bus, several weeks earlier, the army said.
The Israeli Army also holds the organisation responsible for several other car bomb attacks that injured 16 people.
Mr Mustafa was the leader of the PFLP in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Marxist group, founded by George Habash, has refused to recognise the peace accords signed between the PLO and Israel since the start of the Oslo process in 1993.
Israel allowed Mr Mustafato return from exile in 1999 after the Palestinian Authority promised to restrain his terror activities.
But the Israeli Army says that with the start of the Palestinian uprising 11 months ago he formed a military cell that has operated throughout the West Bank and that he has ordered members to carry out attacks inside Israel.
Mr Mustafa was killed less than 24 hours after Mr Sharon convened his inner Cabinet on Sunday to discuss security. He, the Defence Minister, Mr Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, and the Foreign Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, agreed to continue a policy of ``targeted killings" of Palestinians suspected of being involved in terrorist attacks.
Mr Ben-Eliezer said Israel would not stand by as Palestinian attacks on Israel continued.
``No-one can expect from us to sit quietly and not do a thing when we know that two suicide bombers are on their way to attack," he said. ``Or when Palestinian Authority command posts are planning car bomb attacks in Israel."
The Transport Minister, Mr Mr Ephraim Sneh, said he doubted that Mr Peres was consulted about the strike.
``Despite this, this man is responsible for seven car bombs; that makes a legitimate target."
But the opposition leader, Mr Yossi Sarid, the head of the left-wing Meretz Party, attacked the Government's policies.
``The assassination of a political activist is a dangerous escalation of the situation.
``There was no great intelligence operation here. He was not hiding but was sitting in his office. I would hope that we will not start killing other political leaders in their offices."
© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald