Israel's threats to assassinate Palestinian officials to be taken seriously

The official in charge of the Political Department of Palestine Islamic Jihad Movement in Lebanon, Ali Abu Shahin, said today that Israel's threat to assassinate Palestinian officials, specially Prime Minister Ismael Haniya should be approached as a serious issue.

He said that many Palestinian officials including Yasser Arafat, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Fathi Shaqaqi have been so far assassinated by Zionist forces.

Abu Shahin underlined that once Israel decides to target Palestinian political or military leaders, it neither pays attention to being condemned by the world community, nor to ethics.

"The Zionist regime may assassinate the Palestinian state officials and members of parliament in the coming days and months, which proves that the Tel Aviv officials are facing psychological and security crisis," he added.

He said that the terrorist operations, air raids and ground attacks of Israel on Gaza aim to undermine the will of Palestinian nation, topple the Hamas government and make it reconcile, adding that prior to the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier in Gaza Strip the regime was prepared to attack the area.

"Given that the Zionist regime was not officially recognized by Hamas, the Zionists exerted more economic and financial pressure on the Palestinian people to turn them away from the Hamas government-elect and launch a civil war in Palestine.

"However, the Palestinian people did not give Israel such an opportunity through dialogue and agreement with Hamas, Fatah and other groups. That is why the Zionist regime attacked Gaza Strip," he said.

Turning to the agreement reached between member of Hamas and Fatah movements with other Palestinian groups, he said that based on it, a nationally unified government was formed to represent the majority of Palestinian political factions, in particular Fatah movement, as well as People's and Democratic Fronts for the Freedom of Palestine.

"The US is determined to uproot the Hamas government in July. That is why Palestinian groups have decided to postpone revision of the government structure until next month," he said.

The Palestinian official said that the Islamic Jihad Movement will not participate in formation of government and election.