[ 20/02/2010 - 08:55 AM ]

DAMASCUS, (PIC)--

Osama Hamdan, Hamas's representative in Lebanon, has asked the world community especially Europe to adopt strict measures against Israel for constituting a permanent source of world tension.

Hamdan told Al-Jazeera TV network on Friday night that the world should realize that Israel is a source of tensions and problems.

He asked the western countries especially those whose passports were used in murdering Hamas operative Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai last month to adopt firm measures against Israel.

Hamdan said that his Movement's reprisal would not be emotional but rather would be well studied taking into consideration the Palestinian higher interests.

For his part, Ezzet Al-Resheq, political bureau member of Hamas, reiterated charges in a press statement on Friday against the Israeli foreign intelligence the Mossad of masterminding the assassination of Mabhouh.

He said that the act fell in line with the ceaseless Israeli war against the Palestinian people and its resistance.

"Hamas does not incite Israel into launching war on the Palestinian people and always tries to evade war but if it is imposed on us then we have to defend ourselves with bravery, which is exactly what happened in Gaza last year," Resheq underlined.

Meanwhile, the Hebrew media castigated the Mossad chief Meir Dagan for botching up the assassination in Dubai after the assassins were revealed accurately and quickly.

The British Daily Mail said in a report on Friday that the British foreign intelligence MI-6 had prior knowledge that the Mossad would launch an assassination using forged British passports.

The paper quoted a Mossad agent as saying that the British foreign office was informed of the operation only hours before it was carried out without detailing the target or place of attack.

However, a spokesman for the British foreign office denied any previous knowledge of the operation.

Zahhar: Enemy is the loser if it shifts battle outside Palestine

[ 20/02/2010 - 06:28 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, a political bureau member of Hamas, has warned that his Movement might retaliate to the Israeli occupation's crimes in kind.

Zahhar, addressing the Friday congregation in Gaza city, said that the West was involved in the Israeli assassination bids and both are trying to move the battle outside Palestine.

The Palestinian people are ready to retaliate any time, he said, noting that Hamas maintained its resistance to occupation within Palestine but if Israel and the West "attempt to move the battle outside Palestine they will be the losers".

Zahhar said that former PA chief Mahmoud Abbas is surrounding himself with a group of corrupt elements that linked their fate to occupation, adding that whoever cooperates with occupation would end up scandalized.

Speaking about Palestinian reconciliation, the Hamas leader said that none of the corrupt security elements would be allowed back into Gaza.

He said that the security mess would never be allowed in the Strip under any circumstances.