Monday, March 22, 2004
Jordan condemns Yassin assassination
AMMAN, March 22 (Petra) - Prime Minister Faisal Al Fayez condemned on Monday the assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, the founder and spiritual leader of Hamas and seven other people accompanying him.
Shortly before dawn today, Israeli AH-64 Apache helicopters fired three missiles at Yassin as he was pushed in a wheelchair from morning prayers at a Gaza City mosque, killing the partially blind and paralyzed Hamas leader, along with seven other people, including three bodyguards. At least 15 other people were wounded, including two of his sons, according to hospital officials.
”We were shocked today by a dangerous Israeli escalation represented in the assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and a number of his companions,” Fayez said in a statement, adding “the assassination is a new crime added to other crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people, and forms a flagrant violation of all charters and norms."
He said the government “condemns this ugly crime and affirms that such behavior would increase the cycle of violence and instability in the region, lead to more bloodshed and undermine the opportunities of achieving just and comprehensive peace that the region's peoples seek to achieve.”
The government condoles the Palestinian people over Yassin's assassination and his companions.
"We call on Israel to immediately withdraw from the occupied Palestinian lands and end the continuous killing of our Palestinian brethren," Fayez said, stressing that the Jordanian government will continue its efforts on all levels and by all means to stop the Israeli violations, put an end to occupation and provide protection for the Palestinian people until they regain their legitimate rights.
Meanwhile, the government's spokesperson Asma Khader said in a statement to Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the government views this massacre as a waste of opportunities to achieve just, comprehensive and permanent peace that puts and end to the Israeli occupation and guarantees the legitimate rights of Palestinians.
Khader reiterated Jordan's firm stance on rejecting the Israeli policy of assassinations which only leads to more escalation and violence.
She affirmed that this policy contradicts Arab and international efforts that aim at achieving genuine peace that guarantees security and stability in the region." The government will make all necessary contacts on the Arab and international levels to deal with this dangerous escalation," the spokesperson added.