 Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya |
Hamas has condemned the recent Israeli threats against its premier's life, saying such remarks only increase the movement's popularity.
"Even if Israel kills Haniya, nothing will change on the ground; on the contrary, Hamas's popularity will increase," Ismail Al-Ashqar, a Hamas lawmaker, told The Media Line on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Israel's Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim, of ruling Kadima party, called for the killing of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, saying the only way to end rocket-firings from Gaza into Israeli towns is the assassination of Haniya.
Hamas says rocket-firing is a response to Tel Aviv's 19-month-old siege of the densely-populated area.
Boim's hardline remarks seem to be part of Kadima's efforts to improve its image, which is badly damaged following Israel's failure in two wars against Lebanon's Hezbollah and Hamas respectively, ahead of the upcoming elections.
"Israel killed women and children and committed war crimes, thinking this would cause the Palestinian people to raise the white flag. Israel even killed Sheikh Ahmad Yasin and [his successor, 'Abd Al-'Aziz] Rantisi, but this only served to increase Hamas' strength and popularity," Al-Ashqar added.
Boim's hardline remarks seem to be part of Kadima's efforts to improve its image, which is badly damaged following Israel's failure in two wars against Lebanon's Hezbollah and Hamas respectively, ahead of the upcoming elections.
"Israel killed women and children and committed war crimes, thinking this would cause the Palestinian people to raise the white flag. Israel even killed Sheikh Ahmad Yasin and [his successor, 'Abd Al-'Aziz] Rantisi, but this only served to increase Hamas' strength and popularity," Al-Ashqar added.
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