Mashaal rejects US proposal

Hamas politburo chief says Qassam attacks won't stop, rejects recently-submitted American document calling for Israel to ease restrictions on Palestinians and demanding PA to halt rocket fire, weapons smuggling. Five rockets hit Israel since Friday

Associated Press
Published: 05.05.07, 12:07 / Israel News

Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal dismissed a new US document proposing a May-to-August timeline for easing Palestinian movement and improving Israeli security on Saturday.

The benchmark document, recently submitted to Israel and the Palestinians, calls on Israel to remove many West Bank roadblocks and improve operations at Gaza's crossings. The Palestinians are asked to halt rocket fire from Gaza and weapons smuggling into the coastal strip.

Mashaal told the Al Jazeera satellite TV station that Palestinians should not agree to halt rocket fire in exchange for an easing of travel restrictions.

Rocket Barrage

Qassam hits Sderot home / Tovah Dadon

Rocket barrage continues Saturday morning: Palestinians in northern Gaza fire two Qassams at Israeli communities in west Negev. Sderot residents say Color Red alert system failed to activate. Attacks come after IDF kills 3 Palestinian gunmen Friday when gunbattle breaks out during arrest raid

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"I swear it's a joke ... The equation has now become: dismantling the checkpoints, in exchange for (giving up) resistance," he said. "This has become the Palestinian cause".

Since Friday Palestinian Qassam cells in Gaza have fired at least five rockets towards Israel, one of which directly hit a Sderot residence.

The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attacks which it said were to avenge the IDF's killing of three Islamic Jihad members Friday night during an arrest raid near Jenin.

Hamas had largely observed the cease-fire, although it fired a barrage of rockets towards Israeli communities last month.

Eroding truce

Mashaal's comments were a further signal that the truce is eroding. Hamas leaders, including Mashaal, have threatened a return to violence if the international community does not lift its sanctions on the Palestinian government, imposed after Hamas came to power last year.

A Palestinian unity government of Hamas and the pragmatic Fatah Party, formed in March, has been unable to break the embargo.

Moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told his Fatah Party after a return from Europe this week that he has made no progress toward lifting the sanctions. Most of the world maintains the boycott because Hamas refuses to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

In his meetings with Fatah leaders, Abbas stopped short of threatening resignation or early elections.

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