Israel accused of assassinating three Palestinians
Palestinian officials have blamed the Israeli Government for an explosion that killed three Palestinians, including a militia leader linked to the Fatah movement, in Bethlehem today.
The three men had just bought a car in the West Bank town when it exploded.
A Fatah spokesman immediately blamed Israel for planting explosives in the vehicle, but the Israeli Government has refused to comment.
The militia leader who was killed was identified as Atef Abayat, who was wanted by Israel for allegedly killing a Jewish settler last month.
Israel has killed more than 50 Palestinians, including innocent bystanders, in targeted assassinations over the past 12 months.
The deliberate programme of state-sponsored murder has been condemned by most international observers, including the United States, Israel’s most stringent supporter on the international scene.
Despite this, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has promised to continue the assassinations, saying Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has failed to arrest those responsible for attacks on Israel.
Today’s triple-murder may, therefore, have been Israel’s official response to the assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in Jerusalem yesterday.
However, that killing was claimed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and not the Fatah movement.
The Israeli Government assassinated PFLP leader Mustafa Zibri as he sat in his office in the West Bank town of Ramallah on August 27th.
