Siam: Attack IDF
Photo: AFP
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. 'Didn't approve order'
Photo: AFP
Official: Whoever orders attacks on IDF is target
After PA Interior Minister Said Siam orders security forces to 'prepare to expel the Palestinian attack,' In Jerusalem politicians won't say whether this is a declaration of war, but assert that 'anyone who lifts a hand on an IDF soldier, or gives the order to do so, has turned into a target like the last of the terrorists'
Has Hamas declared war on Israel? A senior source in the Palestinian national security ministry claims Thursday evening that members of the Palestinian security forces did not receive any "order to actively participate in the repulsion of the Israeli attack in the Strip."
The comment was made in response to statements by the Palestinian interior ministry, which gave the order to PA forces to fire on IDF soldiers in Gaza.
Order
Ali Waked
Interior Minister Said Siam called Palestinian security forces Thursday evening to 'prepare to repel the Israeli attack'
Sources around Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refused to respond to the attack order given by Palestinian Interior Minister Said Siam. A senior source said that Abbas has not been told about the order to attack IDF soldiers.
PA interior ministry spokesman Abu Hilal said that Abbas as commander in chief of the Palestinian forces did not confirm the order.
In Israel, a senior diplomatic source in Jerusalem told Ynet that "anyone who raises a hand on an IDF soldier, or gives the order to do so, has from Israel's perspective turned into a target like the last of the terrorists."
In Jerusalem, government sources refused to say whether Siam's declaration is in fact a declaration of war on Israel. Senior diplomatic sources said that the issue must be discussed, and that "semantics is not the important thing here."
'No surprises'
They added that since Hamas ascended to power in January, it was clear that the government was a terrorist regime, and as far as Israel is concerned, there are no surprises that a Hamas minister was expressing himself in such ways.
"The Israeli government is supporting in recent days the approach of talking as little as possible and doing as much as possible. The Palestinian government is a terrorist government and we do not expect a terrorist government to act differently. For the sake of logic, it's worth saying that Hamas as remained Hamas, a murderous terrorist organization. This does not surprise us," the senior diplomatic source in Jerusalem said.
Minister Eitan Cabel told Ynet in response: "There's no doubt that this declaration is an escalation of the situation. IDF forces will respond correctly to anyone who opens fire at them. The discussion on this issue must be made in the appropriate forum and only then can we decide how to respond to this politically."
Knesset Member Silvan Shalom (Likud) said the PA's real face has been exposed following an order given to Palestinian security forces to open fire at IDF forces in Gaza.
"The Hamas authority is taking of its mask and turning into an enemy. The Palestinian interior minister must be marked for targeted assassination as a first class terrorist.
Ali Waked contributed to this report
