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Early this afternoon, the Israeli Army
launched another illegal, condemnable assassination attempt
against Hamas spokesman Abdel Aziz Rantisi, while he was
driving in a car with his son and three bodyguards. They
were traveling in crowded, impoverished downtown Gaza City
when Israel launched at least seven deadly rockets from
Apache helicopters onto their car, burning and melting it
into a pile of unrecognizable metal and sending dense clouds
of black smoke billowing through the city that is more like
a giant refugee camp. 2 innocent bystanders were killed,
including a 40 year old mother and her 8 year old daughter.
25 innocent Palestinian civilians were injured in this
attack; 3 of these wounded are in critical condition. The
results sound quite similar to that of a suicide bombing.
In the end, this assassination failed
by Israeli standards, as their target, Rantisi, as well as
his son, managed to survive, though with injuries.
This is the 132nd time
since the September 29, 2000 start of this Intifada that
Israel has attempted to assassinate a Palestinian. They
usually get their targets, as well as many others, caught in
the cross-fire of such a catastrophe. Over 70 Palestinian
bystanders, civilians going about their lives, have also
been killed—innocent people walking down the wrong street at
the wrong time when the Israeli Army decides its time to
kill. Thus, it is even more detestable to carry out such
reproachable attacks where it is proven that innocents will
be murdered.
PHRMG is shocked by the
state-sponsored terrorism of Israel, especially at this
time, fresh from the Aqaba summit, when Sharon vowed to be a
partner towards peace with Palestinian counterparts. It is
absolutely obvious that such an assassination attempt will
only fan the flames of hatred and revenge, provoking
militant Palestinian groups to retaliate, thus allowing
Israel to again tighten their stranglehold on the
Palestinian population and stall even longer on real peace
attempts. It seems to PHRMG that Sharon’s manipulative
attempt to appease Bush and his wild Likud party is coming
clear as he nods to Bush and dismantles a few empty
outposts, yet continues with his usual routine of brutality
to please his radical right wing. PHRMG is neither fooled
nor impressed. We hope the rest of the world is not
either.
Behavior such as this, directly from
Sharon’s hand, qualifies Israel and their army for Bush’s
list of extremists seeking to “blow up peace.” Israel has
proved itself to be quite similar to their enemy whom they
criticize as not serious in ending terror and violence.
Assassination attacks are not wise for
the Israeli population, either. Violence begets violence,
and it is proven and stated by Hamas that a retaliation
attack will follow. In this way, Israel is bringing
disaster to its own people. PHRMG is vehemently against all
violence and terror, yet Israel knows these actions are like
beckoning for more disaster in their own laps, to their own
innocent people. Average civilians, Palestinians and
Israelis, are those who pay the cost for the belligerent
actions of political leaders.
PHRMG calls on all parties to gain
sincerity in their approach to peace. In truth, Ariel Sharon
is practicing terrorism as he gives permission to
assassinations. Sharon criticizes Palestinians for this
behavior and then quickly imitates. Terrorism is terrorism,
no matter who is the perpetrator, or how high-tech the
weapon. Hamas must also exhibit restraint and break the
cycle of attack-and-retaliate. PHRMG calls on US President
Bush to condemn this assassination attempt as quickly as he
does a suicide bombing, as they are both just as vile and
condemnable. Now is a time for strong, unbiased efforts to
end this senseless violence in a region too familiar with
suffering and despair.
Please contact your local Israeli
representatives and let them know that assassination is not
part of a peace process and that it will not be tolerated
any more than suicide bombings or any other human rights
violation. Israel must be held equally accountable for its
behavior if there is going to be peace in this region. |
