Eight Palestinians killed; Al-Aqsa group rejects Abu Mazin for prime minister
Palestine-Israel, Military, 3/8/2003

Two Palestinian fighters were able to break into Kreyat Arbaa settlement near Hebron where two Israeli settlers were killed and 8 wounded before the two Palestinians were killed, while two other Palestinians were killed in another attack against a second settlement in the same area.

The two attacks came just one day after a massacre committed by the Israeli forces in Jabalia camp which yesterday reoccupied lands in to the north of Gaza in which a security belt was installed, while other four Palestinians were killed in other confrontations in the sector.

Meantime, the al-Aqsa group of the Fatah movement rejected the nomination of the PLO secretary general Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazin ) for the post of the Palestinian prime minister which the Palestinian Central Council will discuss its foundation today.

Israeli military sources said the security forces killed the two Palestinians who broke into the settlement, which is a repeated target for the Palestinian fighters since the eruption of the Palestinian Intifada.

The Israeli TV, on the other hand, said that two Palestinians were killed on Friday evening in another attack against Nahal Nigohout, to the east of Hebron. The TV added that this attack resulted in no casualties in the Israeli side.

On the other hand, the Palestinian Central Council will discuss today the issue of founding a post of the Palestinian prime minister. A high ranking Palestinian official said that "Abu Mazin will not accept a formal post without authorities." The official explained that the PLO executive committee approved on Thursday evening unanimously appointing a prime minister for the Palestinian Authority and Arafat nominated Abu Mazin for this post and no other nominations were made during the meeting.

Abu Mazin ( 68 year old) is considered as acceptable by both Israel and the US and he had criticized many times "the militarization of the Intifada." According to opinion polls, Abu Mazin is not greatly popular among the Palestinians.

In a statement circulated yesterday evening al- Aqsa groups martyrs said "we do refuse and reject appointment of Mahmoud Abbas as a prime minister under American- Zionist pressure." The statement considered that Abu Mazin is not "a popular person."

Under international pressure, Arafat had accepted to form the post of the prime minister on February 14 and the Palestinian Central Council is due to meet today to discuss founding the post and agree on a candidate to occupy it before the Legislative Council meeting will be held on March 10 through 12 to introduce an amendment to the constitution of the Palestinian authority according to which the post of the prime minister is created and to nominate the persons who will occupy it.

Previous Stories:
  Annan deeply deplores 'disproportionate and excessive' Israeli force in Gaza   (3/7/2003)
  Mother of 10 children killed by Israel; 14 Palestinian dead   (3/7/2003)
  15 Israelis killed in a Palestinian operation in Haifa, PA denounces it   (3/6/2003)
  UN dismayed by indiscriminate shooting of schoolgirl by Israeli forces   (3/4/2003)
  A Palestinian prime minister will be appointed next week   (3/1/2003)
  Suffering of Palestinians, Israelis can end only through political solution, UN envoy says   (2/19/2003)

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