DATE=  10/5/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-220849

TITLE= ISRAEL / HAMAS (S&L)

BYLINE=MARK LAVIE

DATELINE=TEL AVIV

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



INTRO:  ISRAEL'S CABINET MET TODAY (SUNDAY) TO DISCUSS THE

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST A LEADER OF THE EXTREMIST HAMAS

ORGANIZATION IN JORDAN -- AN OPERATION ATTRIBUTED TO THE ISRAELI

MOSSAD SECRET SERVICE.   MARK LAVIE REPORTS FROM TEL AVIV THAT

THE ISRAELI CABINET IS NOT CONFIRMING THAT ISRAEL WAS BEHIND THE

ATTACK ... BUT IT ISN'T DENYING IT, EITHER.



TEXT:  THE ISRAELI CABINET, WHILE REFUSING TO SAY WHETHER MOSSAD

WAS INVOLVED, SAID THE THE ASSASSINATION TARGET -- KHALED MASHAL

-- IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF INNOCENT ISRAELI CIVILIANS.

AND IT DECLARED THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT

IS TO DEFEND ITS CITIZENS.



CRITICISM IS BUILDING AGAINST ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN

NETANYAHU FOR APPARENTLY APPROVING THE OPERATION.  ANALYSTS HERE

POINT OUT THAT IF IT HAD SUCCEEDED AND THE HAMAS OFFICIAL HAD

BEEN KILLED, THERE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD

PALESTINIAN RIOTING IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA AND SERIOUS DAMAGE

TO ISRAEL'S RELATIONS WITH JORDAN.



///OPT/// ISRAELI EXPERTS PIN THE BLAME SQUARELY ON MR.

NETANYAHU.  ON THE ISRAELI STATE RADIO'S MIDDAY NEWSREEL,

MILITARY CORRESPONDENT CARMELLA MENASHE HEAPED UNPRECEDENTED

CRITICISM ON THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND ITS LEADER.



              /// ACT IN HEBREW, AN FADE UNDER ///



SHE SAID THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST FAILURES IN ISRAELI OPERATIONS

AND DECISION-MAKING.  SHE SAID IT LED TO AN UNNECESSARY AND

CONTEMPTIBLE AFFAIR, TO PROFESSIONAL DEGRADATION AND TO DEEP

EMBARRASSMENT FOR ISRAEL, AS WELL AS DAMAGE IN RELATIONS WITH

JORDAN.  THE ISRAELI STATE RADIO REPORTER ADDED THAT THE PRIME

MINISTER AND HEAD OF THE MOSSAD MUST ANSWER FOR THE FAILURE. //

END OPT//



THE TWO WOULD-BE ASSASSINS ARE STILL IN PRISON IN JORDAN.  ON

WEDNESDAY, ISRAEL RELEASED FROM PRISON THE AILING FOUNDER OF

HAMAS, SHEIKH AHMED YASSIN, APPARENTLY BELIEVING IT WOULD GET THE

ALLEGED AGENTS IN RETURN.  NOW, JORDAN IS DEMANDING RELEASE OF

DOZENS OF ADDITIONAL PALESTINIAN PRISONERS HELD BY ISRAEL.

(SIGNED)



NEB/ML/DW/RRM



05-Oct-97 11:25 AM EDT (1525 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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