http://news1.thls.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_65000/65888.stm
BBC, March 16, 1998, Published at 00:55 GMT
Fury at Israeli assassination threat
Jordan has reacted angrily after an Israeli minister said that the Jewish
state would make another attempt to assassinate a senior Hamas
official.
The comments made by Israel's minister for national infrastructure, Ariel
Sharon, follow a botched attempt last September, to kill Khaled
Meshal, a leader of the armed Islamic fundamentalist group.
Two Israeli secret agents were captured in Jordan after they poisoned
Mr Meshal, who is also a Jordanian citizen, in the capital Amman.
Tel Aviv refused to reveal the
antidote until King Hussein got
Washington to intervene.
Several Palestinian prisoners had to
be freed by Israel before Jordan
released the failed assassins.
Jordanian officials have been
outraged by Mr Sharon's latest
comments to Israeli television in
which the cabinet minister said Israel
would kill the Hamas leader and that
he had told King Hussein that last
year.
In Amman, the Israeli ambassador
was summoned to the foreign
ministry and told of Jordan's strong
and unequivocal rejection of Mr Sharon's comments.
Jordan said it viewed any attack on its citizens, regardless of where it
took place, as a violation of its security. Jordan has made a strong
complaint to Israel.
BBC correspondents say Mr Sharon's comments could not have been
timed any better to cause maximum offence to the Jordanian
authorities.
Less than a week ago a series of
talks between senior Israeli and
Jordanian authorities were initiated
for the first time since September.
King Hussein has said that after the
attempt on Mr Meshal's life he had
considered breaking off relations
with Israel.
The recent talks were intended to
help rebuild trust and cooperation
between the two countries.
As part of that process Mr Sharon
came to Jordan to meet King
Hussein. In return Crown Prince
Hassan led a senior delegation to Tel
Aviv.
At the time of the assassination attempt on Mr Meshal, King Hussein
said the future of his peace with Israel hung on whether the Hamas
leader lived or died.
BBC correspondents say that given the way the King felt over the
issue, he is unlikely to take Mr Sharon's comments lightly this time.
Egypt said Mr Sharon's latest remarks showed that Israel's policy was
now orientated towards practicing state terrorism.
A Hamas statement issued in Jordan called Mr Sharon a "terrorist."
"We assure all Zionists that their terrorism will strengthen our
steadfastness to continue a holy war and resistance against our
enemy," the statement said
