Palestinian P.M. Claims Israeli Attack Intended To Bring Down Hamas Gov’t
Posted June 30, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Dozens of Palestinian legislators, including the deputy prime minister and a number of cabinet ministers, are being detained by Israel after they were rounded up in overnight raids Wednesday.
Israeli officials say the 56 politicians weren’t taken into custody to use as bargaining chips to secure the release of 19-year-old Cpl. Gilad Shalit who was kidnapped Saturday, but claim they were rounded up because Israel holds Hamas responsible for attacks against it.
Palestinian P.M. Ismail Haniyeh said Friday that his officials are working hard to secure an end to the standoff, but said he refuses to trade the Israeli soldier for the Hamas politicians.
“This total war is proof of a premeditated plan,” he said. “When they kidnapped the ministers they meant to hijack the government’s position, but we say no positions will be hijacked, no governments will fall.”
He said he’s been in contact with a number Arab and European leaders to try and end the crisis, but “but this Israeli military escalation complicates matters and makes it more difficult.”
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the militants have agreed to Shalit’s conditional release but Israel had not accepted the terms. Israeli officials say they didn’t know anything about a deal.
Meanwhile, Israel launched a series of air attacks in Gaza hitting more than 30 targets, including the Palestinian Interior Ministry and thousands of Israeli tanks have taken up positions in the area.
Israeli forces have also recently targeted power plants, roads and bridges and thousands of soldiers are apparently waiting on the Israel-Gaza border for the green light for a massive invasion.
