Palestinian and Israeli newspapers debate the assassination by Israel of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi. Some Israeli papers rejoice while others are more cautious. The Palestinian dailies are unequivocal in condemning Israel.
Al-Rantissi follows Sheikh Yassin as martyr
Headline in Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will arrive at this morning's weekly cabinet meeting replete with achievements. The assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi joins the understandings reached last Wednesday with US President George Bush.
Rantissi's killing will produce the expected wave of responses. The security establishment, meanwhile, will continue to plan the next assassination on its list of targets.
From commentary by Aluf Benn in Ha'aretz
Anger grips West Bank and Gaza Strip after Rantissi's assassination
Headline in Al-Ayyam
Hamas will not forsake revenge and despite the excellent ability of the General Security Service and the IDF it will succeed in the end. This will be followed by revenge and counter-revenge and so forth and we will not succeed in getting out of the cycle of bloodshed.
From commentary by Roni Shakid in Yediot Aharonot
Rantissi's assassination will inflict great damage on the peace process and the hopes of the region's peoples for living in security and stability.
From editorial in al-Quds
Three and a half weeks was all Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi was able to reign as Hamas leader. His successor will meet the same fate.
Not only did they [Hamas leaders] witness how Rantissi suffered before he died, but they know that every move they make may be watched.
From commentary by Arieh O'Sullivan in Jerusalem Post
Such crimes will lead both sides to the point of no return and push them towards the abyss.
From editorial in al-Quds
It is difficult to see how the Hamas movement would now cope with the vacuum left by Rantissi.
From commentary by Hagay Huberman in Hatzofe
It seems that Israel does not take into account the grave consequences of its illegal actions that were condemned by the international community.
From editorial in al-Quds
Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi sowed death in Israel. His death could not have come too soon.
If there is justification for liquidating a terrorist bomber on his way to attack, the liquidation of the commander and preacher who sent him on his mission is justified sevenfold.
From editorial in Yediot Aharonot
Our people will neither give up nor give in. The US policy pushes us towards negative desperation and corners us into Sampson's corner [where we can only kill ourselves and our enemies at the same time].
Prior to his previous visits to Washington, Sharon used to give orders to assassinate [Palestinian leaders] and commit massacres so that the retaliation would take place while he was at the White House. However, Sheikh Yassin's assassination did not have any reprisals. That is why he returned from Washington armed with a US bundle aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause, leadership and people.
From editorial in al-Hayat al-Jadidah
The missiles fired yesterday are liable to tip the results of the Likud ballot box in Sharon's favour.
From commentary by Dan Margalit in Ma'ariv
Today Israeli strategy in Gaza Strip is influenced by one main factor: the disengagement. In order to implement this strategy Israel has set for itself a central objective: to erode Hamas power in the Gaza Strip so that it does not remain the central alternative to power after the IDF's withdrawal from the Strip.
From commentary by Alex Fishman in Yediot Aharonot
Yesterday's liquidation could already today lead to disturbances in the [Palestinian] Territories, terrorist attacks in Israel and clashes in the north as happened after the Yassin's liquidation.
From commentary by Amir Rapaport in Ma'ariv
BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.
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