An Israeli court issued an arrest warrant Monday for the leader of the militant Islamic group Hamas who was detained last week in New York, clearing the way for a formal extradition request.
Papers filed by the Justice Department accuse Mousa Abu Marzuk of ordering lethal attacks on Israeli citizens and soldiers.The warrant accused Abu Marzuk, a Hamas political leader, of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to kill, malicious wounding and wounding.
Abu Marzuk, 45, was arrested at New York's Kennedy International Airport on July 25. He has lived in the United States for 14 years and has a permanent resident visa, but U.S. immigration officials have filed papers to bar him from entering the United States.
A hearing for Abu Marzuk is scheduled for Wednesday in New York. Israel has 60 days in which to prepare a formal extradition request.
Hamas - a group that wants to install Islamic rule in all land it considers Palestinian, including Israel - opposes the Israel-PLO autonomy accord and claims responsibility for a series of suicide bombings and other attacks against Israelis.
Marwan Kanafani, spokesman for PLO leader Yasser Arafat, said Israel was "escalating the situation" by demanding Abu Marzuk's extradition.
"We hope that this matter will be handled quietly, because we are interested in finding a solution to this crisis, not worsening it," he said.
Some Hamas activists in the Gaza Strip warned there would be vengeance if action was taken against Abu Marzuk by the United States.
"If the United States extradited Abu Marzuk to Israel, or kept him in prison for a long time, there would be retaliation and vengeance," said Muin Abu Okal, a Hamas activist in the Gaza Strip.
Justice Minister David Libai told Army Radio Monday that Israel must not be intimidated and had to bring Abu Marzuk to trial despite the difficulties.
"When the head of the Hamas political bureau is caught . . . do you want us to tell the Israeli public that we are simply throwing up our hands and giving in? We have to do everything possible to bring him to trial," Libai said.