Known for his extremist views even within the extremist Hamas terror organization, Rantisi was among the founders of Hamas in 1987. He was arrested four times by Israel, sat in prison for several years, and was one of the 415 terrorists expelled to Lebanon in 1992. He served as Sheikh Yassin's deputy, and often said that any solution that included Arab recognition of "what is known as the State of Israel" would not be acceptable. He called often for suicide attacks against Israelis, and recently said that Ariel Sharon was "target number one."
Among dozens of Hamas terror attacks over the past 3.5 years of the Palestinian Authority-initiated Oslo War, a total of 186 people were killed in the ten worst Hamas atrocities. These included:
* June 1, 2001 - Dolphinarium in Tel Aviv, 21 killed, mostly new-immigrant teenagers from the former Soviet Union
* Aug. 9, 2001 - Sbarro's Pizzeria in Jerusalem, 15 killed, including the parents and three children of the Schijveschuurder family
* Dec. 2, 2001 - Haifa bus, 15 killed
* March 27, 2002 - Park Hotel in the midst of the Passover Seder, 30 killed, including six husband-and-wife couples
* March 31, 2002 - Matza Restaurant in Haifa, 15 killed, including two sets of a father and two children
* May 7, 2002 - Rishon Letzion hall, 16 killed
* June 18, 2002 - #32 bus from Gilo, Jerusalem, 19 killed
* March 5, 2003 - #37 bus in Haifa, 15 killed
* June 11, 2003 - #14 bus, Jerusalem, 17 killed
* Aug. 19, 2003 - #2 bus from Western Wall, 23 killed, including a mother and baby; father and son; and four other children
Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw jumped early yesterday evening to condemn Israel's action against the terrorist leader. Britain similarly was among the first to condemn Israel for the killing of long-time Hamas chief Sheikh Ahmed Yassin on March 22.
Officials in Jerusalem said last night, in response to PA claims, that the White House was not informed nor consulted in advance of the strike against Rantisi. The U.S. did not condemn the killing, but said that Israel should take into account the ramifications of its actions.
Hamas, predictably, said it would avenge Rantisi's death - although it is widely recognized that the strike against Rantisi has truly struck a blow at the Hamas organizational structure. Proof of this was seen in the fact that there is no "natural successor" on the scene. Rantisi proudly claimed leadership of Hamas after Israel's successful targeting of Yassin last month. Hours later, however, he was forced to backtrack when Khaled Meshal announced from Damascus that he was in charge. Meshal announced last night that the new leader's identity should be kept secret.
The leader has already been chosen, and some assume that he is Mahmoud A-Zahar. Israel Air Force battle helicopters attacked his home seven months ago, totally destroying the building, killing his eldest son and bodyguard, and injuring A-Zahar himself. A-Zahar is outspokenly against the existence of the State of Israel. On May 22, 2003, he told BBC's Tim Sebastian, "I'm telling you frankly, the attitude of Islam is not to accept a foreign state in this area." Sebastian asked, "So until Israel ceases to exist, you won't lay down your arms. Is that right?" A-Zahar replied, "First of all, we are a part of the independent Islamist-- this is the attitude of thousands and millions of people."