DATE= 10/5/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-220849
TITLE= ISRAEL / HAMAS (S&L)
BYLINE=MARK LAVIE
DATELINE=TEL AVIV
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAEL'S CABINET MET TODAY (SUNDAY) TO DISCUSS THE
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST A LEADER OF THE EXTREMIST HAMAS
ORGANIZATION IN JORDAN -- AN OPERATION ATTRIBUTED TO THE ISRAELI
MOSSAD SECRET SERVICE. MARK LAVIE REPORTS FROM TEL AVIV THAT
THE ISRAELI CABINET IS NOT CONFIRMING THAT ISRAEL WAS BEHIND THE
ATTACK ... BUT IT ISN'T DENYING IT, EITHER.
TEXT: THE ISRAELI CABINET, WHILE REFUSING TO SAY WHETHER MOSSAD
WAS INVOLVED, SAID THE THE ASSASSINATION TARGET -- KHALED MASHAL
-- IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF INNOCENT ISRAELI CIVILIANS.
AND IT DECLARED THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT
IS TO DEFEND ITS CITIZENS.
CRITICISM IS BUILDING AGAINST ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN
NETANYAHU FOR APPARENTLY APPROVING THE OPERATION. ANALYSTS HERE
POINT OUT THAT IF IT HAD SUCCEEDED AND THE HAMAS OFFICIAL HAD
BEEN KILLED, THERE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD
PALESTINIAN RIOTING IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA AND SERIOUS DAMAGE
TO ISRAEL'S RELATIONS WITH JORDAN.
///OPT/// ISRAELI EXPERTS PIN THE BLAME SQUARELY ON MR.
NETANYAHU. ON THE ISRAELI STATE RADIO'S MIDDAY NEWSREEL,
MILITARY CORRESPONDENT CARMELLA MENASHE HEAPED UNPRECEDENTED
CRITICISM ON THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND ITS LEADER.
/// ACT IN HEBREW, AN FADE UNDER ///
SHE SAID THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST FAILURES IN ISRAELI OPERATIONS
AND DECISION-MAKING. SHE SAID IT LED TO AN UNNECESSARY AND
CONTEMPTIBLE AFFAIR, TO PROFESSIONAL DEGRADATION AND TO DEEP
EMBARRASSMENT FOR ISRAEL, AS WELL AS DAMAGE IN RELATIONS WITH
JORDAN. THE ISRAELI STATE RADIO REPORTER ADDED THAT THE PRIME
MINISTER AND HEAD OF THE MOSSAD MUST ANSWER FOR THE FAILURE. //
END OPT//
THE TWO WOULD-BE ASSASSINS ARE STILL IN PRISON IN JORDAN. ON
WEDNESDAY, ISRAEL RELEASED FROM PRISON THE AILING FOUNDER OF
HAMAS, SHEIKH AHMED YASSIN, APPARENTLY BELIEVING IT WOULD GET THE
ALLEGED AGENTS IN RETURN. NOW, JORDAN IS DEMANDING RELEASE OF
DOZENS OF ADDITIONAL PALESTINIAN PRISONERS HELD BY ISRAEL.
(SIGNED)
NEB/ML/DW/RRM
05-Oct-97 11:25 AM EDT (1525 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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