PFLP claims responsibility for Jerusalem assassination
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has claimed responsibility for the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in Jerusalem this morning.
The 75-year-old hardliner was shot three times in the head and face outside his room in the Hyatt Hotel at around 7am.
The PFLP said it carried out the attack in retaliation for the Israeli Government’s assassination of PFLP leader Mustafa Zibri in a rocket attack in the West Bank town of Ramallah on August 27.
Mr Zibri was killed instantly when an Israeli rocket slammed into his offices in Ramallah.
He was the highest-ranking target of Israel’s campaign of assassinating Palestinian political leaders who they accuse of involvement in attacks on Israeli civilians.
In the past year, since the outbreak of the latest Palestinian intefadeh, Israel has deliberately murdered more than 50 Palestinians, including bystanders, in targeted assassinations.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has condemned this morning’s murder and said he is still committed to a truce with Israel called on September 26.
However, the Palestinian Authority said it had warned Israel in the past that its assassination of Palestinian politicians would lead to an escalation in violence.
Israel is expected to retaliate for Mr Zeevi’s killing and has already re-imposed some travel restrictions in the West Bank which were lifted earlier this week as part of the shaky ceasefire.
