Israel: Israel has threatened it will target Hamas leaders, including Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh, if the militant group resumed attacks.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz -- speaking on Army Radio a day after an Israeli air strike took out two Islamic Jihad militants, two children, an additional innocent bystander and an ice cream truck in Gaza City -- said that even Hamas prime minister could be targeted for a pinpoint attack should Hamas resume attacks against Israel.
With the election campaign under way in Israel, acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh could be a target of pinpoint attacks. He also shaved 'billions' off the settlement budget.
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Kadima Party head with party founder Ariel Sharon still in a coma following a severe stroke suffered on January 4 -- laid out his party's policy toward the controversial Jewish settlements in the West Bank. "Billions," Olmert said, without specifying whether he was talking about dollars or Israeli shekels, would be diverted from spending on Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories to development projects in both southern and northern Israel.
Israeli Minister of Transportation has backed the statement.
Hamas, which has sworn to destroy Israel, has largely abided by an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire declared a year ago.
Palestinian Prime Minister-designate and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh did not react to the threats.
In January, Hamas -- seen as a terrorist organization by Israel, the European Union and the US -- scored a surprise general election victory and is in the process of forming a government. On Monday, a Hamas-controlled Parliament triggered a confrontation with the rival Fatah party by rescinding wide-ranging powers granted to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas immediately prior to the January general elections. Fatah deputies stormed out of Parliament in protest.
(With Agency inputs)
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