Gaza Bombing Complicates Mission for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian president, faced a significant challenge on Tuesday evening when a Palestinian suicide bomber killed a member of the Israeli Shin Bet security services and wounded several soldiers in the southern Gaza Strip. The bombing adds to the already considerable difficulties Abbas is facing in his efforts to persuade Hamas and other armed factions to stop suicide bombings, shootings, and rocket attacks, while seeking a negotiated cease-fire with Israel. With Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowing to respond strongly, Abbas's mission to calm the situation and implement a disarmament of Palestinian factions appears increasingly daunting.

Key Takeaways:

• A Palestinian suicide bomber killed a member of the Israeli Shin Bet security services and wounded several soldiers in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday evening, complicating the mission of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
• The bombing was claimed by the militant Islamic faction Hamas, which has stated its willingness to talk with Abbas but will continue its attacks.
• Abbas had arrived in Gaza earlier on Tuesday, seeking to persuade Hamas and other armed factions to stop attacks, and will meet over the next few days with Palestinian security chiefs and various armed factions.
• Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed to respond strongly to the bombing, saying that the military was free to pursue terrorists "without restrictions."
• The Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have rejected calls to stop resistance operations against Israel, with Islamic Jihad stating that such calls are "not binding" on them.
• Abbas has ordered the Palestinian security forces to prevent attacks, but it is unclear what actions the forces might take, particularly in the far north of Gaza where most Palestinian rockets against Israel are launched.
• The Palestinian factions have kept up their steady shelling campaign, firing several mortars at Jewish settlements in the south and north of Gaza on Tuesday.

Statistics:

• 1 Israeli member of the Shin Bet security services was killed in the bombing; several soldiers were wounded.
• The bombing was carried out by a Palestinian suicide bomber identified as Omar al-Tabish, 21.
• 2 leading factions, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have stated their willingness to talk with Abbas but will continue their attacks.
• Israel is demanding that Abbas use the Palestinian security forces to disarm the factions.
• The Palestinian security forces have been ordered by Abbas to prevent attacks.

Sources:

• "A Palestinian suicide bomber killed a member of the Israeli Shin Bet security services and wounded several soldiers in the southern Gaza Strip," The New York Times, February [unavailable], 2005.
• "Hamas claimed responsibility for the bomb," The New York Times, February [unavailable], 2005.
• "Islamic Jihad said in a statement that 'calls by some to stop resistance operations against the Zionist enemy are not binding on us,'" The New York Times, February [unavailable], 2005.
• "Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades, which is part of Abbas's Fatah movement, offered support for Abbas's efforts," The New York Times, February [unavailable], 2005.