Sep. 26, 2005 Jihad ’unhappy’ with Hamas ceasefire
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
In the first criticism of its kind, the Islamic Jihad organization said on Monday that it was "unhappy" with Hamas’s decision to stop firing rockets at Israel.
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar announced on Sunday night that his movement would stop firing rockets at Israel. The announcement came hours after Israel killed Muhammed Sheikh Khalil, a senior Islamic Jihad operative in Gaza city.
"Hamas declares an end to its operations from the Gaza Strip against the Israeli occupation, which came in response to the assaults by the enemy," Zahar told reporters in Gaza City.
Zahar’s statement came shortly after he and other Hamas leaders met with Egyptian security officials in Gaza City.
Sources close to Hamas said the Egyptians exerted heavy pressure on Hamas over the past few days to end its attacks on Israel and to abide by the unofficial truce with Israel.
"We’re not happy with Hamas’s position at this stage and in light of the Israeli escalation against the Palestinians,‘ commented Khader Habib, a senior Islamic Jihad official. ’But it seems that Hamas has its own political agenda."
Habib expressed his belief that Hamas’s decision was related to the parliamentary elections slated for next January. Hamas is keen on participating in the vote despite Israeli opposition.
The Islamic Jihad official pointed out that Hamas was clearly seeking to calm the situation to avoid Israeli and American pressure to keep the movement away from the elections.
"The problem is not with the Palestinian resistance groups but with Israel’s scheme to destroy the Palestinians’ infrastructure,‘ Habib said. ’Hamas remains targeted by Israel, as in the past, and the Israeli occupation does not need excuses to pursue its aggression. Israel wants to drive the Palestinians toward civil war."
He said his group would continue its attacks on Israel and would turn the Gaza Strip into a vast battlefield. He accused Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of ordering the elimination of Khalil to appease members of the Likud central committee, who convened in Tel Aviv on Sunday night.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri defended the decision to halt the rocket attacks, saying it did not mean the end of the "resistance" or that his movement would lay down its weapons.
"This decision is designed to end the internal crisis and stop the deterioration,‘ he said. ’Hamas is a big and strong movement that is capable of dealing with matters in a responsible and brave manner. We take our decisions on the basis of the interests of the Palestinian people and not as a result of external pressure."
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