July 7, 2006
By Ryan Jones
Jerusalem Newswire
Israeli officials were hesitant to admit it, but the Hamas rulers of the Palestinian Authority openly declared war on Israel Thursday when they ordered their own security forces to engage IDF soldiers operating against terrorist groups in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip.
PA Interior Minister Sayid Siam announced a high state of alert among forces in Gaza, and called on his troops "to prepare to repel the Israeli attack in Gaza," reported Ynet.
"Palestinian" interior and national security spokesman Abu Hilal followed up by confirming PA security forces had been given clear orders to open fire on Israeli soldiers.
The statements marked the first time senior PA officials had openly ordered their forces, who were armed by Israel and the West under the "Oslo" peace agreements, to turn their weapons on Israel.
"Moderate" PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas reportedly refused to respond to the orders issued by the Hamas regime.
Israeli cabinet minister Eitan Cabel told Ynet the Olmert government was taking the threat seriously, and was confident the IDF will be prepared and capable of defending itself.
"There's no doubt that this declaration is an escalation of the situation. IDF forces will respond correctly to anyone who opens fire at them."
Another senior diplomatic source said no one should be surprised by this latest development.
"The Palestinian government is a terrorist government and we do not expect a terrorist government to act differently. For the sake of logic, it's worth saying that Hamas as remained Hamas, a murderous terrorist organization. This does not surprise us."
Likud Knesset Member and former foreign minister Silvan Shalom said Siam "must be marked for targeted assassination as a first class terrorist."
http://www.jnewswire.com/article/946