Arab World Ignites Over Second Assassination; Hamas Vows 100 Reprisals

Rantissi, a 56-year-old pediatrician who was outspoken in support of resistance to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, died when two missiles slammed into his car hours after a bomber killed an Israeli soldier at northern Gaza's Erez crossing

As 200,000 people poured onto the streets of Gaza City for Rantissi's funeral, his body was carried aloft on a stretcher draped in a green Hamas flag. Mourners kissed his shrapnel-sliced face and others tossed flower petals onto the body. Fists shook at the sky in anger as four Israeli warplanes roared overhead.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians and Arabs took to the streets across the Middle East also on Sunday in angry demonstrations against Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi.

Refugee camps in Jordan exploded in protest after Rantissi's death yesterday in an Israeli missile strike, the second murder of a Hamas leader last months targeted assassination of its spiritual leader, Sheikh Yassin, was killed last month.

Gunfire ripped through the sky for 20 minutes in Ain el-Helweh Palestinian camp, the largest in Lebanon, overnight yesterday as thousands of protesters chanted "Vengeance! Vengeance!" in the wake of Rantissi's murder.

As 200,000 people poured onto the streets of Gaza City for Rantissi's funeral, another 10,000 Palestinians rallied in their camps in Jordan, and Palestinians and Lebanese joined in a protest in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre.

Lebanese movement Hezbollah said it held the United States "directly responsible" for the assassination of Hamas chief Abdelaziz Rantissi by Israeli forces.

"The American administration, which provides cover, both moral and political, as well as material support to the murderous government in Tel Aviv, has direct responsibility for this crime," the extremist group said in a statement. "This crime is the practical result of the positions of the US President", George W. Bush, it added.

Revenge Assured

Despite promises of revenge, Hamas has not yet struck in the three weeks since Israel assassinated Rantissi's Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin, indicating a large scale operation is in the works. It should not go unnoticed that in latest week tape from Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaida's No 1 man, also vowed to avenge Yassin's assassination. This latest murder is sure to fuel further anger and attacks.

"The blood of Yassin and Rantissi will not be wasted. Their blood will force the eruption of new volcanoes," one militant shouted. Thousands took up the refrain of revenge, chanting: "We will sacrifice our souls and blood for Rantissi."

Faced with an Israeli threat to wipe out all its leaders, Hamas said it had appointed Rantissi's successor but would keep his identity secret.

Sharon Continues Unchecked

Emboldened with America in his pocket, Sharon yesterday picked up the support of key cabinet ministers for his unilateral disengagement plan, including the Gaza withdrawal, assuring him of a cabinet majority ahead of a hard-fought referendum among the 200,000 members of his Likud party.

Sharon told cabinet he would forge ahead with his plan and continue to "hit the terror organizations and their leaders."

Cabinet member Gideon Ezra said the overall Hamas leader, Damascus-based Khaled Mashaal, was also a target. Rantisi was in charge of the Palestinian areas and reported to Mashaal.

Israel rebuffed the wide spread international criticism of the Rantissi killing. It said Rantissi, like Yassin, was targeted because he directed bloody Hamas attacks against Israelis and was planning more.

The United States denied giving Israel the green light to go after Rantissi but refrained from condemning the assassination.

But many Palestinians held the United States, saying it is giving Israel free rein. "The Palestinian government considers this Israeli terrorist campaign to be a direct result of American encouragement and the total American bias in favor of the Israeli government," said Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.

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