The spiritual leader of Hamas said Israel's military operation in the West Bank had not crippled the organization and on Wednesday vowed additional attacks against Israel.
Sheik Ahmed Yassin remarks came in an interview with The Associated Press a day after the group carried out a suicide bombing south of Tel Aviv that killed 15 Israelis.
Yassin pledged retaliation for what he claimed massacres carried out by Israeli forces in the Jenin refugee camp and the West Bank.
Hamas' leadership is in Gaza and has survived the Israeli offensive pretty much in tact. Although Hamas' forces in the West Bank have been targeted by Israel, Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority has suffered greater damage in terms of offices hit and facilities damaged in Gaza as well as the West Bank.
Hamas took responsibility Tuesday for a suicide bombing in a suburb Rishon Letzion, 10 miles south of Tel Aviv. The bomber walked into the pool hall with a suitcase and a belt packed with explosives and metal objects. Hamas did not identify the bomber.
Yassin said the Palestinians had no other means of defense in facing the Israeli military offensives than attacking Israelis.
Israel arrested two Hamas leaders in the West Bank on Wednesday.
Arafat placed Yassin under house arrest as part of a crackdown on militants in December but later released him. On Wednesday, Arafat condemned the bombing and ordered his security forces to go after those responsible for terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.
( May 9, 2002)
