Israel says it’s identified new Hamas leader

[Uncle Sam]

He better watch his six, twelve, three, eight, etc...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4816579/


JERUSALEM - Israeli military officials said Monday that they believed Mahmoud Zahar, a surgeon and prominent hard-liner, was the new leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas denied the claim, calling it a ploy to get information about the group’s murky leadership structure.

Hamas, formally known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, has refused to identify the man chosen to replace Abdel Aziz Rantisi, whom Israeli killed in an airstrike April 17.

The group’s leaders in Gaza have been in hiding since the organization’s founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, was assassinated by Israel on March 22. Israel has said the group’s entire leadership is marked for death.

Hamas has claimed responsibility for dozens of suicide bombings that have killed more than 300 Israelis in the past 3½ years.

Reportedly doesn’t want job
All three major Israeli newspapers identified Zahar, who had been Rantisi’s deputy, as the new leader Monday.

Israel’s military chief, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, told Yediot Ahronot that the new Hamas leader had inherited the post “automatically” and accepted only reluctantly. Yaalon also signaled that Israel would avoid attacking him as long as the group remained quiet.

“He doesn’t want it, and he is apparently avoiding making decisions, and he is apparently avoiding terrorism,” Yaalon said. “Anyone who doesn’t use terrorism against us, we do not deal with.”

Yaalon did not identify the Hamas leader, but military officials said he was referring to Zahar. The officials noted, however, that it was impossible to identify the leader with 100 percent certainty because of Hamas’ fluid leadership structure.

Zahar, 53, who was Yassin’s personal physician, is considered a hard-liner in Hamas. He rejects not only any settlement with Israel but has also opposed compromise with Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Authority. He has escaped two Israeli assassination attempts, most recently a September attack that killed his eldest son and a bodyguard.

Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, accused Israel of trying to trick Hamas into divulging sensitive information.

“This is a clear blow that the Israeli Zionist enemy is attempting to find information and to make us say yes or no,” he said in an interview on a Hamas Web site. “Mentioning names by the Israeli enemy shows that they are preparing new aggression on Hamas.”

[Dalleer]

What are you waiting for ? Put another missile up that guy's tailpipe...

[Marsuitor]

Why even bother keeping it a secret. No doubt will the Mossad or whoever find out sooner or later.
Just as futile as putting copy protection on games IMO. :lol:

[born_to_kill]

I dohnt understand the purpose of a leader if its a secret

[SeanAshi]

I find it amusing that they would even try to keep it a secret from Israel.

[Seoulstriker]

I dohnt understand the purpose of a leader if its a secret

They're the ones who coordinate (damn i saw COO as a carboxylic acid :cantbeli: ) the missions or provide spiritual support or whatever. If they aren't public, it doesn't mean that they don't operate, just as Hamas doesn't plan openly and publicly.

[Falco]

All bets are on. How many days before the new guy will get sharowned?

[Ghostwolf]

Is this the man we are talking about?

http://www.passia.org/images/personalities/zahar-mahmoud/Mahmoud-1-L.jpg

[SeanAshi]

3 weeks and then he will be
http://home.houston.rr.com/gopha1/other/sharowned.jpg

[Seoulstriker]

nice one, sean. :lol:

[Falco]

Two weeks and a half.

[usa320]

5 Days and hell be

http://home.houston.rr.com/gopha1/other/sharowned.jpg

Why do they even bother anymore?

Everytime they get a leader, hell get offed. They will get sick of it after a while.

Israel i think is finally winning against them. WHen they killed Rantissi they all called for revenge. That never materialized, thus leading to the bombing of Yassin. No revenge materialized after that either. If you ask me the best way to deal with these guys is to off them.

[StarvingStudent47]

Israel i think is finally winning against them. WHen they killed Rantissi they all called for revenge. That never materialized, thus leading to the bombing of Yassin. No revenge materialized after that either. If you ask me the best way to deal with these guys is to off them.

Just to clarify, first Yassin was whacked, then Rantissi.

But you are correct, for all this promise of "horrific retribution," Hamas has been more quiet after the assassinations, not less.

[seruriermarshal]

Now need 2 AH-64 .

;)

[SeanAshi]

Just to clarify, first Yassin was whacked, then Rantissi
Lets not forget Abu Shanab last year, I think he was the most senior Hamas leader killed by Israel before Yassin.
http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2003-08/21/images/pic03b.jpg Political wing my ass

[born_to_kill]

he has 48 hours to live.

[Kilgor]

But you are correct, for all this promise of "horrific retribution," Hamas has been more quiet after the assassinations, not less.

So much for this "volcano" of revenge.

They are getting ass pounded, and they know it. Empty threats.

I hope they enjoy picking up the scattered remains of this arsehole in a few days.

[SeanAshi]

They are getting ass pounded, and they know it. Empty threats.
The threats are real, Israeli security has been tight and preventing potential suicide attacks.

[Kilgor]

thats what I ment ;)

the security is very tight at the moment, so the chances of attacks getting through has dropped.

I doubt they have the room to move for a "volcano"

[SpikeATGM]

Even a layman like me can make a correct guess, it should be no problem for Mossad.

He can run but he can't hide.

[UoUo]

I don't think the mossad is opearte in the west bank..or gaza...

It is work for the shabak i think.

[mocking_loudly_died]

http://www.killingsheep.com/images/avaters/santahamas.jpg

[AirZone]

yep the Shabak does mainly all the job with those terrorists (and mainly thanks to human intel.. forgot whats the name of it)

those guys keep me and my family safe...awww i feel all worm and fuzzy inside lol :hug:

[Ghostwolf]

yep the Shabak does mainly all the job with those terrorists (and mainly thanks to human intel.. forgot whats the name of it)

those guys keep me and my family safe...awww i feel all worm and fuzzy inside lol :hug:

What organization exactly is Shabak? A part of military intelligence?
I heard of Shin Bet, Aman, Lekem, but seldom heard of Shabak.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

What organization exactly is Shabak? A part of military intelligence?I heard of Shin Bet, Aman, Lekem, but seldom heard of Shabak.
Shin Bet = Shabak

[Mark_Aspen]

Sherut Bitachon Clali (Shabak) -- General Security Service.

[UkrainianAmerican]

http://www.killingsheep.com/images/avaters/santahamas.jpg
I KNEW Santa was an evil jew-hater!
He dont leave me no presents on Christmas! :fork:

[IDFM203]

Israel i think is finally winning against them. WHen they killed Rantissi they all called for revenge. That never materialized, thus leading to the bombing of Yassin. No revenge materialized after that either. IMO Israel started winning a little over a year and a half ago after it went back in the second time after operation defensive shield and has stayed in a more aggressive tone going after them to where before that time there was a homicide bombing and shooting attack almost daily or weekly to where now as a result of IDF and shin bet actions (even before the yassin killing), we have reduced it by over 50 percent (and its dropping even more).

Just understand that this isn’t 100 percent full proof (as nothing is a 100 percent) and I do believe there will be another homicide bombing, but the fact is that we have limited them big time and that is IMO winning the war on terrorism.


As for the Shabak yeah they are phenomenal and a lot of credit goes to them.

I will say that if Americans had them or something like them operating in Najaf in Iraq, Sadr would have been taken care of by now ;)

Just sayin…….:D

Shalom :D

[alexbmn]

well I've been reading so many "we are winning" articles recently even in Haaretz. All it takes is one asshole to wriggle through the defenses and this mood will be shattered.

[Airborneranger4israel]

i bet that he will be "Sharowned" when the next suicide bomb goes off or another terrorist strike against israelis is carried out

[IDFM203]

well I've been reading so many "we are winning" articles recently even in Haaretz. All it takes is one asshole to wriggle through the defenses and this mood will be shattered. Listen even I say that an asshole terrorist WILL get through our defenses for again there is NO 100 percent full proof to anything!!

However unless it gets back to how it was BEFORE 2 years ago where BEFORE the IDF went back in more aggressively on the offensive against these terrorists (before that time we were mostly only in stationery defensive positions and rarely went in after them) where before there were a homicide bombing and shooting attack almost daily and for sure weekly, unless it gets to that, even if one gets in, I can confidently say that a fact is that we are indeed winning for limiting them big time which we have clealy done, is IMO winning the war on terrorism.

BTW thanks for mentioning you reading this in Haaretz, for if the rabid left wing haaretz also says were winning well that’s even more to further back up what I have been saying for a while ;) :D

Shalom :D

[scm77]

I am predicting he will be
http://home.houston.rr.com/gopha1/other/sharowned.jpg
by the end of may.

woot woot