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International Wrap: Hamas Advises Members How to Avoid Israeli Strikes

Aired August 26, 2003 - 06:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The terrorist group, Hamas, has come out with a how-to list for its militant members. And here to tell us all about it is senior international editor David Clinch.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Hey.

COSTELLO: And a how-to list?

CLINCH: Yes, Carol. I told you we'd come back and tell you a little bit more about this.

This is a very interesting development. Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the two main militant groups fighting Israel, basically have abandoned their cease-fire, attacking Israeli targets wherever they can.

Well, the Israelis are doing their part in attacking the Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders wherever they can find them, and they seem to be very good at finding them. They're able to blow them up in cars going down narrow streets in Gaza. Anywhere they want they can find them.

Well, Hamas, or a particular Hamas Web site, has now put out a guide, basically, for Hamas leaders and militants of what they should do in order to avoid being attacked. Various things: "All fighters have to consider themselves targets." "Don't pass on information over the telephone."

They don't know who to trust. They can't even talk to each other, basically. They don't know who is watching them, so they can't talk to each other on the phones.

"Don't drive anywhere unless necessary." "If you do drive, don't drive together, one person at a time," so if they succeed, at least only one leader is killed. "Don't move around except when necessary and move only on small streets, not major roads." "Use disguises when necessary."

COSTELLO: Well, that this was put out, does it mean that the Israeli strategy is working perhaps?

CLINCH: Well, I suppose you could say that -- I mean, if this is to be believed as real Hamas information to their leaders. And it certainly seems to be that. Hamas leaders have said to us within the last two days in Gaza that this is now absolutely a war. They know their target. They know they're going to get hit, and they're hiding. The key point is not whether they're scared or running scared, because we know they are running scared, it's whether it has any effect on terrorism and their ability to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel. It's all well and good, I suppose, for Israel to say that the Hamas guys are in hiding and running away and in disguise, dressed up or whatever. The fact it is it not yet clear whether Israel has succeeded in shutting down the terror groups.

And, of course, in their aggressive efforts to shut them down, in some degree, they undermine the Prime Minister Abbas himself, who is trying to do it on the Palestinian side. So...

COSTELLO: And I think he's meeting today to try to come up with a new strategy.

CLINCH: It's interesting, but also very important. You know, it's not just amusing, but certainly the Israelis are probably quite happy to see this out there.

COSTELLO: Probably so. David Clinch, many thanks.

CLINCH: All right.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.




Israeli Strikes>


Aired August 26, 2003 - 06:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The terrorist group, Hamas, has come out with a how-to list for its militant members. And here to tell us all about it is senior international editor David Clinch.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Hey.

COSTELLO: And a how-to list?

CLINCH: Yes, Carol. I told you we'd come back and tell you a little bit more about this.

This is a very interesting development. Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the two main militant groups fighting Israel, basically have abandoned their cease-fire, attacking Israeli targets wherever they can.

Well, the Israelis are doing their part in attacking the Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders wherever they can find them, and they seem to be very good at finding them. They're able to blow them up in cars going down narrow streets in Gaza. Anywhere they want they can find them.

Well, Hamas, or a particular Hamas Web site, has now put out a guide, basically, for Hamas leaders and militants of what they should do in order to avoid being attacked. Various things: "All fighters have to consider themselves targets." "Don't pass on information over the telephone."

They don't know who to trust. They can't even talk to each other, basically. They don't know who is watching them, so they can't talk to each other on the phones.

"Don't drive anywhere unless necessary." "If you do drive, don't drive together, one person at a time," so if they succeed, at least only one leader is killed. "Don't move around except when necessary and move only on small streets, not major roads." "Use disguises when necessary."

COSTELLO: Well, that this was put out, does it mean that the Israeli strategy is working perhaps?

CLINCH: Well, I suppose you could say that -- I mean, if this is to be believed as real Hamas information to their leaders. And it certainly seems to be that. Hamas leaders have said to us within the last two days in Gaza that this is now absolutely a war. They know their target. They know they're going to get hit, and they're hiding. The key point is not whether they're scared or running scared, because we know they are running scared, it's whether it has any effect on terrorism and their ability to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel. It's all well and good, I suppose, for Israel to say that the Hamas guys are in hiding and running away and in disguise, dressed up or whatever. The fact it is it not yet clear whether Israel has succeeded in shutting down the terror groups.

And, of course, in their aggressive efforts to shut them down, in some degree, they undermine the Prime Minister Abbas himself, who is trying to do it on the Palestinian side. So...

COSTELLO: And I think he's meeting today to try to come up with a new strategy.

CLINCH: It's interesting, but also very important. You know, it's not just amusing, but certainly the Israelis are probably quite happy to see this out there.

COSTELLO: Probably so. David Clinch, many thanks.

CLINCH: All right.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.




Israeli Strikes>