New Hamas leader announced

[CShine]

Hamas today named its new leader in Gaza City and the West Bank as Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a veteran militant dedicated to the destruction of the Israeli state.

The announcement of Rantisi's election was made over loudspeaker during a gathering of tens of thousands of Hamas supporters at a soccer stadium in Gaza City, a day after Ahmed Yassin, Hamas founder and spiritual leader, was assassinated by Israel.

A senior Hamas official, Ismail Hanieh, told the crowd: "After the assassination of the hero, the martyr, Ahmed Yassin, a secret election was held ... in which Dr Abdel Aziz Rantisi was chosen as the new leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement."

Rantisi, a paediatrician who speaks fluent English and has often acted as a spokesman for the group in interviews with foreign media, will run the group's operations in the occupied territories.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1176269,00.html

[Tinoire]

1. WEll, that will certainly "arouse" Sharon and his apologists!

Yassin was the strongest Hamas leaders arguing for moderation and and agreement with Israel.

Charlie Rose has a fascinating program on right now. Sharon has undermined all possibility of a moderate Palestinian voice being heard now.

Bravo Likudniks! You have a hammer... Attack, attack, attack! Pretty soon there will be nothing left- not even Israeli children.

What an absolutely eveil and enormous escalation! We shall all suffer for this.