Hamas commander “neutralised”
Israeli troops killed a Hamas commander in a raid on Friday, a further expression of President Sharon’s resolve to defeat militancy on the West Bank.
The attack further undermines Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas’s chances of continuing on as his reformist agenda.
The beleaguered leader has been frustrated by Yasser Arafat’s unwillingness to hand over control of security forces.
An Israeli soldier was killed and four soldiers injured in the city of Nablus, in an explosion at an apartment building housing Mohammad al-Hanbali, reportedly chief commander of Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, a militant wing of Hamas, in the northern West Bank and a top bomb-maker linked with several suicide bombings.
Mr Hanbali apparently opened fire on Israeli troops.
Three other Hamas members were arrested at the site.
Mr Abbas called Thursday for Palestinian parliamentarians “to back him or sack him.”
Mr Abbas is prepared to countenance a vote a no-confidence next week in a bid to restart the stalled peace process.
The Bush administration refuses to play ball with President Arafat.
Mr Bush considers him a terrorist.
The latest crackdown comes after 21 people were killed and dozens injured on August 19 when a Palestinian suicide bomber attacked a crowded bus in Jerusalem.
Hamas claimed responsibility.
