Palestinians crack down on Hamas after shooting

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian security forces arrested more than 150 Hamas members early Wednesday in an overnight sweep throughout the West Bank after the Islamic militant group claimed responsibility for shooting dead four Israelis on the eve of new Mideast peace talks. With the crackdown, the government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appeared to be trying to send a stern message to both his Hamas rivals and to Israel that it is committed to the new peace talks. In Washington, Netanyahu said late Tuesday he would not allow the shooting to derail the negotiations. The shooting immediately cast a shadow over President Barack Obama's push for Mideast peace, which was set to formally kick off Wednesday night with a dinner at the White House. It will be the first direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in nearly two years. It also was a vivid reminder that while Hamas is locked out of the peace efforts, it remains a key player in determining the outcome of negotiations. The Iranian-backed group rules the Gaza Strip, one half of the territory claimed by the Palestinians for a future state, and has the power to sabotage negotiations at any moment. During a visit to a West Bank army base, Israel's defense minister, Ehud Barak, called on residents to show restraint. "We are in the midst of a long struggle for our right to live in security in a peace agreement with our neighbors," he said. A Palestinian security official, speaking on condition of anonymity under official guidelines, confirmed a crackdown was under way, but gave few details. He said the assailants from the shooting had not been found. Hamas lawmaker Omar Abdel-Raziq said more than 150 members had been detained, and others had been summoned to police stations for questioning. He accused Abbas of trying to please the Israelis. "These are political arrests," he said. "They are trying to tell the Israelis that they are capable of doing the job after the attack." Abbas, a Western-backed moderate, has carried out frequent crackdowns on Hamas since the Iranian-backed group defeated his forces and overtook the Gaza Strip three years ago. In turn, Hamas has cracked down on members of Abbas' Fatah movement in Gaza. Tuesday night's attack occurred near Hebron, when a gunman opened fire on a passing vehicle, killing all four passengers inside — two men and two women. Hebron has been a frequent flashpoint of violence in the past. Some 500 ultranationalist Jewish settlers live in heavily fortified enclaves in the city, surrounded by more than 100,000 Palestinians. Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist and has condemned the new peace talks, quickly took responsibility for the shooting and vowed that more attacks would follow. About 3,000 Palestinians joined a rally in Gaza to celebrate the attack. The shooting occurred shortly before Netanyahu landed in Washington for the new U.S. push for peace, which was set to launch Wednesday night with a dinner at the White House. Netanyahu, who leads a hardline coalition heavily comprised of ultranationalist and religious parties, told reporters in Washington that he would not let the violence disrupt the peace efforts. "We will not let terror decide where Israelis live or the configuration of our final borders," he said. Netanyahu has said protecting Israeli security would be his top priority as he negotiates the contours of a future Palestinian state with Abbas. The shooting drew strong condemnations from Abbas' prime minister, Salam Fayyad, who accused Hamas of hurting the Palestinian dream of independence, the European Union and the United States. "This brutal attack underscores how far the enemies of peace will go to try to block progress" in the talks, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. "It is crucial that the parties persevere, keep moving forward even through difficult times, and continue working to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region that provides security for all peoples." — AP