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04/09/2006:

"Israel steps up shelling, kills one Palestinian"

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel shelled two Palestinian security posts in northern Gaza on Sunday, killing one person and wounding 15 as the army kept up its heaviest strikes on the strip since Jewish settlers and troops withdrew last year.

Israeli air strikes and artillery barrages have killed 15 Palestinians, mainly militants, since Friday.

Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who won elections last month on pledges to impose final borders with or without Palestinian agreement, said there were no curbs on the army to respond to a surge of militant rocket fire on Israel.
news.yahoo.com


The massacre in Rafah is a clear message to the world that the Israeli government will not cease attacks
New Palestinian Legislative Council member, Ghazi Hamed, confirmed Saturday that the Israeli killing of six Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah is, "a clear message to the world from the Israeli government that they will continue their work against members of the armed Palestinian resistance."

This is a horrible crime, says Hamed, that the Quaret and the European Union should take note of. "This is the Israeli beginning of yet another series of massacres against the Palestinian people as the Israeli government boycotts the Palestinian government and attacks its people."

The Palestinian government spoke directly to European and Arab states, and to the European Union, regarding the latest killing, giving details of what they referred to as the lastest massacre. The Palestinian government called on those instutions to pressure the Israeli government to put an immediate end to its agressions.

Responding to a question concerning the position of the European Union and the United States after a negative investigation of the new Palestinian government, Hamed said that is an unjust decision and the siege on the Palestinian people is not serving any just position. He asked, "Why are the consequences of the crimes and occupation being placed upon the Palestinian people and not upon Israel?"


Abbas: 'Convergence' will lead to war
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Friday in an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian that Olmert's "convergence plan" will only bring more war to the region.

Abbas added that Olmert's plan will only endanger the chances of reaching a long term agreement, since it bypasses negotiations with the Palestinians.


Palestinian political rift grows
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya has criticised a decision by President Mahmoud Abbas to assume control of Gaza's border crossings.
He called the move an attempt to undermine the Hamas-led government's control over security matters.

The government would not accept the creation of parallel structures that would diminish its authority, he added.

Mr Abbas, whose Fatah party is a political rival of Hamas, also named an ally as head of internal security.

In his new role, Rashid Abu Shbak, who is currently head of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Preventative Security Service, will have authority over the police and emergency services.

Correspondents say that although Mr Shbak will nominally report to Hamas Interior Minister Said al-Siyam, ultimate authority rests with the president.