Military

DATE=3/22/2004

TYPE=ENGLISH PROGRAMS REPORT

TITLE= Israel/Palestinian/Yassin (CQ)

NUMBER=4-0114

BYLINE=Yackee

PHONE=202-203-4247

DATELINE=Washington

Re-issuing with correct EPR number (4-0114)

Inserts are available in Dalet - SOD/English News Now/Reports

TEXT: Tens of thousands of Palestinians joined a funeral procession for Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City today (Monday). Armed fighters of the Palestinian militant group carried the coffin with Sheikh Yassin's remains through the streets of the city, accompanied by angry crowds demanding revenge. Sheikh Yassin was killed by missiles fired by Israeli helicopters as he left a mosque in Gaza City. Israel confirmed it carried out the deadly operation, saying Sheikh Yassin was personally responsible for ordering suicide attacks against Israelis. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said the Sheikh and Hamas have been responsible for the killings of hundreds of Israelis:

/// Begin Shalom Act ///

We can't ignore the situation that is taking place in our region. Those organizations are doing everything they can in order to hurt and to damage the Israeli society and the Israeli people.

/// End Shalom Act ///

One Middle East expert says the death of Sheikh Yassin contributes to an already terrible situation. Henry Siegman ('seeg-men) is a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and Director of the Council's U-S--Middle East Project in New York.

He says the announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that he plans to withdraw from Gaza had opened up a small window of hope, on both sides, that the move might lead towards resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mr. Siegman says the targeted assassination of Sheikh Yassin, in political terms, can only have destructive consequences on that process.

/// Begin Siegman Act ///

Because to the extent that Hamas forces are needed to establish some measure of stability in Gaza following such a withdrawal and some level of collaboration with the Palestinian Authority - to that extent the targeted assassination has made that task much more difficult if not impossible. And the likelihood is that Hamas is going to engage in very ugly retaliation.

/// End Siegman Act ///

Mr. Siegman says for Palestinians, this assassination reaffirms their existing perception of Prime Minister Sharon's policy....that he will always undermine what possibility may exist for some kind of return to stability in the region.

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