EU calls on Israel not to resume targeted killings

The European Union on Friday called on Israel not to resume targeted killings, after a top Israeli official warned that Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin is "marked for death."

"The European Union has spoken on several occasions against the so-called extra-judicial killings of suspected terrorists," EU spokesman Diego Ojeda said.

"Proceeding in such a manner against a leading figure of a Palestinian terrorist organization would be counterproductive to efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East as the European Union has expressed many times before."

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Israel had a right to defend itself but also should consider the consequences of its actions. He emphasized that the United States opposes targeted killings.

Senior security officials on Thursday said that that the security establishment is considering targeting senior Hamas officials. Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim said Yassin topped the list of those the military is stalking.

"Sheik Yassin is marked for death, and he should hide himself deep underground where he won't know the difference between day and night. And we will find him in the tunnels, and we will eliminate him," Boim told Army Radio on Thursday night.

Yassin on Friday denied involvement in Wednesday's suicide bombing at the Erez crossing. "We do not fear the threat of death," he said, wrapped in a brown blanket outside a mosque. "We will not bow to pressure and resistance will continue until the occupation is destroyed."

Yassin said he was not personally involved in planning attacks, denying allegations by Israeli security officials that he had approved Wednesday's bombing in which a female suicide bomber killed four Israelis.

Thousands of Palestinians rallied on Friday night in support of Yassin in Gaza City and the Nusseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Among the protesters were dozens of masked Hamas members who waved green flags as spokesmen announced through loudspeakers that the militant group would fight on even if Israel killed its leaders.

"Israel will pay a heavy price for any attempt to harm the Sheikh and the [Hamas] political leadership," a statement released on Friday by Hamas' armed wing said.

Yassin already dodged one Israeli attempt to kill him in September. A warplane dropped a 250-kilogram bomb on a building where he and the rest of the top Hamas leadership were meeting in a single room, but Yassin escaped with just a small wound to his hand.

The crossing to the Gaza Strip might be reopened early next week, a meeting of defense chiefs decided Thursday, but the Erez industrial zone will stay closed until an alternative site is found for security checks to replace the building destroyed in Wednesday's bombing.

Two nights ago Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz at the last minute halted an IDF initiative to partially reopen the crossing to Palestinians. Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon, senior officers in the Southern Command, and officials coordinating activities in the territories all recommended leaving the crossing into Israel open to the approximately 15,000 merchants and laborers holding permits to enter Israel, and make do with closing only the Erez industrial zone.

However, Avi Dichter, the head of the Shin Bet security services, vehemently opposed the IDF recommendation, saying terror groups would take advantage of the disorganization after the bombing to send more suicide bombers into Israel.

Mofaz left the final decision to OC Southern Command, Major General Dan Harel, although he also said the partial opening should only be permitted if necessary security standards are met. Harel, who had previously supported the partial opening of the crossing, acted according to the defense minister's veiled directive, and ordered the crossing to stay closed.

It was decided however that "humanitarian crossings" would be permitted and the transfer of merchandise via other Gaza Strip checkpoints into Israel would be made easier.

On Thursday, the IDF, Border Police and the Civil Administration began their investigation into the suicide bombing at the terminal where laborers cross into Israel. Investigators have so far determined that the woman suicide bomber had acted on large amounts of intelligence about IDF activity at the crossing, apparently gathered by laborers in the industrial zone.

One factor noted was the attitude of security guards to the bomber, who are said to have believed her charade of being injured, and to have allowed her to pass through the bleeping metal detector without examination.

The physical plan of the facility for searching women after they have passed through the metal detector is said to be another weakness in the system.

Senior Southern Command officers believe there is no alternative to beefing up searches at the crossings. They expressed concern that terror groups might seek to capitalize on what they view as a success and attempt additional attacks in the area.

Meanwhile, a small number of shooting incidents took place in the territories yesterday, with no injuries to Israelis reported. The incidents were at the settlement of Kadim near Jenin, at Tul Karm, in the Katif Bloc, and in Rafah.

The IDF arrested 14 wanted Palestinians in the Jenin area, Tul Karm, and Ramallah, and destroyed the homes of two terrorists in Tul Karm refugee camp.

	Palestinian supporters of Hamas spiritual leader Ahmed Yassin demonstrating outside his Gaza home on Friday. (AP)