JERUSALEM — Israel will strike at more Hamas leaders, the Israeli defense minister said Tuesday, a day after the founder of the Islamic militant group, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, was assassinated in a missile attack.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and his security chiefs decided to try to kill the entire Hamas leadership, without waiting for another terror attack, security sources said Tuesday.
The killing of Yassin threatens to escalate Israel-Palestinian fighting. Fearing revenge, Israel beefed up security throughout the country and at missions abroad.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians thronged the streets of Gaza City for Yassin's funeral procession Monday, and Hamas threatened punishing revenge attacks against Israel. It also hinted that the United States could become a target for backing Israel.
Hamas, founded by Yassin in 1987, wants to destroy Israel and replace it with an Islamic state. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Monday that Hamas killed 377 Israelis and wounded more than 2,000 in hundreds of attacks.
Mofaz said Tuesday that other Hamas leaders would be targeted. "If we will continue, in a determined way, with our strikes against Hamas and other terror groups, with the means I outlined, including action against those leaders, we will bring more security to Israeli citizens," he said.
Mofaz and Israeli security chiefs met for five hours late Monday and decided to step up targeted attacks, the security sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. They said officials decided to go after the entire Hamas leadership without waiting for another attack by the militant group.
A decision on targeting top Hamas officials was first made last week by Israel's Cabinet, in response to a double suicide bombing at an Israeli seaport.
On Tuesday, Israel's army chief suggested that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and the chief of the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, would eventually be assassinated by Israel.
"I think that their responses yesterday show that they understand that it is nearing them," Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon said when asked if the two men were in Israel's crosshairs.
Arafat's aides say the Palestinian leader is concerned about being targeted. It was not clear what response by Nasrallah the army chief was referring to.
In Gaza City, thousands of mourners gathered in a reception area set up in a large soccer stadium adorned with green Hamas flags and posters of Yassin. Loudspeakers broadcast calls for jihad, or holy war.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia headed to Gaza on Tuesday to express condolences and was to attend a ceremony at the stadium later in the day.
Yassin's wife, Halima, greeted mourners at their modest Gaza City home. "We're counting on God and God will give us our revenge ... on the Jews I hope, and on the collaborators, and on the spies," she said. The couple had 11 children.
The Palestinian Authority declared three days of mourning and stores throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip were closed. Hamas is the biggest rival to the authority, but Palestinian leaders treat the movement with care because of its popularity.
Israeli security chiefs are closely watching to see who fills the political vacuum caused by Yassin's death. At least initially, hardliner Abdel Aziz Rantisi, has emerged as a Hamas strongman. Rantisi, a 54-year-old pediatrician who escaped an Israeli assassination attempt last June, opposes even a temporary truce with Israel.
Ismail Hanieh, a top Yassin aide, said Hamas took a blow to morale, but would continue carrying out attacks on Israel. "Sheik Yassin's death is not going to harm or affect the movement. It's going to give us encouragement to go ahead with our program to achieve our goal," Hanieh said.
However, Israel has become more effective in preventing attacks. The number of suicide bombings and the number of victims has dropped, with 142 Israelis killed in 22 bombings in 2003, compared to 214 killed in 53 bombings in 2002.
Analysts attributed the drop to Israel's partially built West Bank barrier, its beefed up intelligence, a brief cease-fire in 2003 and Hamas leaders' fears of assassination.
In the meantime, Israel has increased security both at home and abroad. Jerusalem's usually lively streets were mostly empty Monday night, due to fears of a Hamas attack. Buses remained empty on Tuesday.
Checkpoints were set up around major cities, and police were visible on city streets Tuesday. Tel Aviv police commander Yossi Sedbon told Army Radio that he expects the alert level to remain high for at least a month.
A closure preventing Palestinians from entering Israel from the West Bank and Gaza remained in effect, and the army increased forces throughout the Palestinian areas, officials said. Five Palestinians died in violence following Yassin's killing Monday; sporadic stone-throwing clashes in the West Bank were reported Tuesday.
Troops prepared for a variety of scenarios, including kidnappings and attacks on army bases and Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, the officials said. Security also was beefed up for military and political leaders.
Forces increased security along the northern border with Lebanon in fear of a Hezbollah attack. The Lebanese guerrilla group fired anti-tank missiles and artillery rounds at Israeli troops late Monday, drawing Israeli return fire. No casualties were reported.
Outside the country, Israel stepped up security at embassies, consulates and other official offices. Israeli officials also advised various Jewish centers around the world to take precautions. Israel fears that groups operating abroad, like Hezbollah or al-Qaida, might strike to show solidarity with Hamas, the officials said.
The assassination, which killed seven other people, received large support in Israel, despite the belief that it will spark more violence. The Yediot Ahronot daily published a poll showing 60 percent of Israelis that killing Yassin was the right thing to do, while 32 percent thought it was wrong.
On the other hand, 81 percent of Israelis believe the assassination will lead to an increase in militant attacks, according to the Dahaf.
"No one in the system, not even Sharon, believes that the assassination of the sheik will reduce the scope of terror. There is no strategy here: just bitter frustration and mounting difficulty to look the voters in the eye," wrote Yediot columnist Nahum Barnea.
The attack drew widespread condemnation from Arab and European governments. The United States, Israel's closest ally, said it was "deeply troubled" by the assassination and urged restraint.
The killing was part of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's effort to crush Hamas ahead of a possible Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, the killing was seen as a huge gamble that could galvanize the Palestinians behind Israel's arch-foe Hamas.
The missile strike dealt also what could be the final blow to the stalled U.S.-led "road map" peace plan. It also angered Egypt and Jordan, two moderate Arab states whose tacit support Sharon needs for any unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.
A team of top Israeli officials, including Sharon's bureau chief Dov Weisglass and National Security chief Giora Eiland, were headed to Washington on Tuesday to discuss the withdrawal plan with American officials.