Nazir Majally • Asharq Al-Awsat

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 23 June 2003 — Israel yesterday rejected criticism from the Middle East peace quartet of its policy of assassinating Palestinian activists and threatened more such operations.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell, issuing an apparent rebuke to Israel, said the killing of Abdullah Qawasmeh in the West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday was a cause for concern that could impede progress on the road map to peace.

Later, a statement read out by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Shuneh, Jordan said: “The quartet expresses its deep concern over Israeli military actions that result in the killing of innocent Palestinian and other civilians.”

“Such actions do not enhance security and undermine trust and prospects for cooperation,” the statement said. The United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia, who make up the quartet, drew up the peace road map.

“We reject these criticisms because the quartet, and in particular the Europeans, should know that terrorism also kills innocent people on the Israeli side,” an Israeli official said.

At the weekly meeting of his Cabinet, Sharon said Israel had demanded the Palestinians “act in the most serious manner against terrorist organizations”. If they do not, he said, “we will continue our activities to provide security” for Israelis.

Israeli Cabinet Minister Tzipi Livni said those activities would include striking against militants planning attacks. “Unless the Palestinian Authority takes real responsibility, Israel will have to keep dealing with ticking bombs,” she said.

Hamas vowed “thundering retaliation” for Qawasmeh’s death. It said it could not accept Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas’ call for a truce with Israel while its men were being killed.

On Saturday night, a Palestinian woman was shot dead by Israeli troops near a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip.