CPTnet March 23, 2003 HEBRON REFLECTION: On the death of Sheikh Yassin in
Gaza

[Note: Greg Rollins wrote the following letter to his supporters from Amman,
Jordan, where he is waiting to find out if the Israeli Ministry of the
Interior will reverse its decision denying him entry into Israel. See March
11 and 12, 2004 CPTnet Urgent Actions.]

One person's madman is another person's hero. That saying describes the late
Sheikh Yassin, the spiritual leader and founder of the Palestinian militant
group Hamas. By now, some of you have probably heard how the Israeli army
killed him Monday morning in Gaza in a missile strike.

    Sheikh Yassin was more than just a leader of Hamas, he was trusted by
the Palestinian people. He and in fact all of Hamas are said to be the only
incorruptible Palestinian leaders. Palestinians say Sheikh Yassin was a man
who put Palestine first, not his pocket book, like Yasser Arafat and the
Palestinian Authority are known to do.

     While the Israeli PM Ariel Sharon says it was a good idea to kill
Sheikh Yassin, most Arab leaders around the world, and all Palestinians say
Sharon has committed a huge mistake. One leader of Hamas said, "He has
opened the gates of Hell." The Palestinians I have talked with here in
Amman Jordan, agree. Most say it is only a matter of time before all the
Palestinian militant groups, (not just Hamas) strike back and strike back
hard. Several Palestinian here in Amman have told me that they supported the
peace talks, now they do not.

     This killing should not come as a surprise. In September of 2003 the
Israeli army targeted Sheikh Yassin as he met with other Hamas leaders, but
Yassin escaped with only a cut to the hand. It is also a tactic of the
Israeli army's to kill . . . leaders from the militant groups. . . In the
summer of 2003, the Israeli army killed all the Hamas leaders of Hebron,
rendering the group somewhat inactive there.

     If Sharon thinks killing Sheikh Yassin will cripple Hamas in general,
he is most likely mistaken. Hamas is not a dumb or small time group. They
are used to being targeted and have probably learned from this. They are
well organized and most likely have some sort of plan already in place. Many
people believe Sheikh Yassin's death will only strengthen Hamas. Some even
say that Hamas will now topple the Palestinian Authority for power and
leadership of the people. Only time will tell, but it shouldn't take too
long to find out.

     On CNN after the killing, one Israeli military leader did not seem too
worried about retaliation from Hamas. He told CNN that with the death of
Sheikh Yassin, Israel was now willing to talk peace with the Palestinians.
But as the CNN reporter said to the military leader, "I don't think there
are any Palestinians who want to talk to you now."