An official from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement yesterday threatened anti-Israeli suicide attacks following the election this week of Mr Ariel Sharon as Israel's prime minister. "We are going to welcome Sharon with suicide bomb attacks," Mr Abdullah Shami, an Islamic Jihad leader, said during a memorial rally for Shadi Kahlut (24), shot last Sunday by the Israeli army as he carried a bag of explosives into Israel from the Gaza Strip.
"We have the means to attack cities, towns and settlements and soldiers and to spread terror in our enemy's home," Mr Shami said to a crowd of 3,000 people in Gaza City.
Islamic Jihad has violently opposed the peace process with Israel and has terrorised the country and settlements with suicide bomb and car bomb attacks.
Meanwhile, President Bush yesterday urged Palestinians to give Mr Sharon a chance to form a government and fulfill his promise to pursue peace. Mr Bush said this was the message he gave to the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, in a telephone call on Thursday, adding that he had also urged calm in his conversations with Mr Arafat and other regional leaders.