Israeli Assassination of Hamas Leader Occurs as Ariel Sharon Withdraws from Gaza Strip

Interview with Phyllis Bennis, fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, conducted Scott Harris

Israel is bracing for retaliatory attacks after Ariel Sharon's government carried out the March 22nd assassination of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Replacing the wheelchair-bound Sheik Yassin is the new leader of Hamas, Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi, who has vowed to launch attacks on Israel using all available means, including suicide bombers who target Israeli civilians in their fight to liberate Palestine.

While much of the world denounced the killing of Sheik Yassin as a dangerous escalation of Israeli-Palestinian violence, the Bush administration withheld judgment and worked to defeat a UN Security Council resolution condemning the murder. Observers noted that the assassination of Sheik Yassin may have been timed to bolster public support for Ariel Sharon in advance of his government's expected unilateral withdrawl of Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip and areas of the West Bank. Meanwhile, Sharon is facing a possible indictment on political corruption charges that could bring down his government.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, who examines the rationale and timing of Sheik Yassin's assassination and the likely repercussions of the killing, including the possible strengthening of the Sheik's Hamas movement.

Phyllis Bennis is author of the book, "Before and After: U.S. Foreign Policy and the September 11 Crisis." Contact the Institute by calling (202) 234-9382 or visit their website at www.ips-dc.org

Related links:



"Yassin and Annexation," Z Magazine, March 30, 2004

"Murdering Sheikh Yassin," Tikkun Magazine, March 30, 2004 Electronic Intifada Publishes news, commentary, analysis, and reference materials about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict from a Palestinian perspective Tikkun Magazine, www.tikkun.org A community of people from many faiths and traditions, with a vision of healing and transforming our world. Guided by the principles to achieve social justice, ecological sanity, and world peace, and the inner healing needed to foster loving relationships, as well as a generous attitude toward the world and toward others

"Israel/Occupied Territories: Wanton Destruction Constitutes a War Crime," Amnesty International, Oct. 14, 2003

"The origin of the Palestine-Israeli conflict," Jews for Justice, April 5, 2002

"Background to the Israel-Palestine Crisis," by Stephen R. Shalom, Z Magazine, May 2002

"Middle East Time Line," by Stephen R. Shalom, Z Magazine, (revised, Dec. 12, 2001) ZNet Middle East Watch, History and Context, a resource page featuring articles, links and resources explaining the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict and providing contextual background information.

"Ten Years After Oslo," by Catherine Cook, Traverse City Record-Eagle (Traverse City, Mich.), September 2003

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