Palestinians Blame Israel for Murder

GAZA STRIP: Palestinians are blaming Israelis for the death of Yehiya Ayyash, a Palestinian terrorist known as "The Engineer," who was killed today by explosives concealed in a mobile phone. "Israel is behind this attack. It carried it out through its agents in the area," a spokesman for the radical Islamic group Hamas declared. While not admitting responsibility, Israeli officials didn't mince words. "I think he deserves it," Police Minister Moshe Shala commented. "He injured many innocent people, children, young people, civilians, the elderly." Ayyash has topped the Israeli police most wanted list following a wave of suicide bombings, the latest occurring in Tel Aviv on October 19, 1994 killing 22 people. TIME's Jamil Hamad reports from the West Bank that after Palestinian security forces confirmed the murder on the radio, Hamas activists began chanting anti-Israeli slogans and pledged a revenge killing. "Yassir Arafat reportedly summoned high ranking officials to discuss the consequences of the killing and may cancel his upcoming trip to Jerusalem as a result," Hamad says. The Israeli government has advised Israelis not to travel to Palestinian autonomous areas for fear of Islamic attacks. "Most Palestinians agree," Hamad concludes, "that Ayyash's murder will aggravate tensions in Gaza and West Bank and could result in the boycotting of upcoming elections."