The BBC reports that three Israeli helicopters fired missiles at Mr. Yassin as he was returning from a mosque [ed: in his wheelchair, according to Jiihad Unspun, something that I don't see in any other report], killing him and 15 others, including one of his sons. United Press International reports that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declared three days of mourning. Israel's Maariv International reports that more than 100,000 people attended Yassin's funeral on Monday. Palestinian reaction was immediate. The Hamas leadership said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had "opened the gates of hell".
...MSNBC/AP reports that for the first time in the history of the organization, Hamas also threatened the United States, saying America's backing of Israel made the assassination possible. "All the Muslims of the world will be honored to join in on the retaliation for this crime," Hamas said in a statement. Agence France-Press reports that the reaction of most Palestinians, even those who did not follow Hamas or agree with its tactics, was overwhelming shock and anger.
...Maariv reports that reaction to the killing divided largely along party lines in Israel, with members of the right-wing Likud party praising the action, and most members from the centrist Shinui party and the leftist Labor party condemning the move.
...The Scotsman reports that the British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, condemned the "unlawful killing."
...Reuters reports that other ministers from the European Union also condemned the attack, saying it would only increase terrorism around the world.
...The reaction from the Arab world was also swift. The Associated Press reports that President Hosni Mubarak canceled a visit by Egyptian legislators to Israel in protest. Asked about the killing's likely impact on the peace process, Mr. Mubarak replied: "What peace process?" King Abdullah of Jordan, who met only last week with Mr. Sharon, called it a crime.
Christian Science Monitor article
...MSNBC/AP reports that for the first time in the history of the organization, Hamas also threatened the United States, saying America's backing of Israel made the assassination possible. "All the Muslims of the world will be honored to join in on the retaliation for this crime," Hamas said in a statement. Agence France-Press reports that the reaction of most Palestinians, even those who did not follow Hamas or agree with its tactics, was overwhelming shock and anger.
...Maariv reports that reaction to the killing divided largely along party lines in Israel, with members of the right-wing Likud party praising the action, and most members from the centrist Shinui party and the leftist Labor party condemning the move.
...The Scotsman reports that the British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, condemned the "unlawful killing."
...Reuters reports that other ministers from the European Union also condemned the attack, saying it would only increase terrorism around the world.
...The reaction from the Arab world was also swift. The Associated Press reports that President Hosni Mubarak canceled a visit by Egyptian legislators to Israel in protest. Asked about the killing's likely impact on the peace process, Mr. Mubarak replied: "What peace process?" King Abdullah of Jordan, who met only last week with Mr. Sharon, called it a crime.
"Norway condemns the killing this morning of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin," Foreign Minister Jan Petersen said following Monday's attack.
"This act will lead to greater tension in the area and impede implementation of the Roadmap for Peace and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza," said the Foreign Minister. "We realise that Hamas has been responsible for a number of terrorist operations, which we have deeply deplored. This does not, however, justify extrajudicial killings like the one we have now seen."
News of Norway article
"This act will lead to greater tension in the area and impede implementation of the Roadmap for Peace and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza," said the Foreign Minister. "We realise that Hamas has been responsible for a number of terrorist operations, which we have deeply deplored. This does not, however, justify extrajudicial killings like the one we have now seen."
Where's America's condemnation statement?
"It is very important that everyone step back now and try now to be calm in the region. There is always a possibility of a better day in the Middle East," White House national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said on NBC television.
Christian Science Monitor article
Update 11:20 am: Aljazeera mentions "his chair", which is the only other reference in a report I see to the idea that Yasin was confined to a wheelchair, and also reports this:
Israeli helicopter gunships fired missiles at Yasin as he left a mosque after dawn prayers, killing the Hamas leader and at least eight other people.
...Among the crowds gathered outside Yasin's house were three women brandishing M-16 assault rifles. One of the women, who was in her 60s, said she was prepared to take part in an attack in retaliation.
"We are all fighters, all martyrs. We are all prepared to be martyrs," she told AFP.
article
...Among the crowds gathered outside Yasin's house were three women brandishing M-16 assault rifles. One of the women, who was in her 60s, said she was prepared to take part in an attack in retaliation.
"We are all fighters, all martyrs. We are all prepared to be martyrs," she told AFP.
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