Israeli defense minister on Sunday called for a higher security level against the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) seeking revenge for the assassination of its founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, amid constant violence during the weekend.

Defense Minister Shoul Mofaz told the cabinet that it was his impression that Hamas was under pressure as the demise of Yassin, who was assassinated in an Israeli air strike on March 22.

"I believe that cracks have appeared in the leadership of Hamas and its leaders are acting like fugitives," Mofaz was quoted as saying by the local press.

He called for maintaining daily routines while showing increased awareness and stepping up security at sensitive places.

Constant violence during weekend

All the Palestinian organizations in the territories reportedly have been working together in the past weeks, especially since Yassin's assassination.

Last Friday, a Palestinian killed an Israeli man at a settlement bloc near the West Bank city of Tulkarm. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad (Holy War) claimed responsibility for the attack, with Hamas saying it was in revenge for Yassin's assassination.

Israel Radio reported two anti-tank missiles were fired late Saturday at Israel Defense Forces troops in Gush Katif, causing no injuries.

The Islamic Jihad movement on Sunday vowed revenge for Friday's clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in which 45 prayers were injured.

Israeli troops Sunday shot dead a Hamas militant and wounded another near the outskirts of the Tulkarem refugee camp in the West Bank. The dead was identified as Khaled Horweish, 30, a resident of Tulkarem, and member of Izel Dein al Qassam, Hamas' armed wing.

Shortly after the attack, an Israeli soldier was wounded in the leg Sunday afternoon in a shooting attack by a Palestinian sniper positioned in the city of Jenin.

Meanwhile, Israeli army forces raided Sunday the refugee camp of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank and blew up the house of a Palestinian militant who carried out an armed attack against Jewish settlers.

Palestinian FM to visit US for talks on Mideast peace

While Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and US President George W.Bush is to hold talks on April 14, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said on Sunday he intended to visit the United States after the second half of April for talks on the stalled Mideast peace process.

Shaath told the Palestinian daily Al-Quds that his visit to the United States would be preceded by Palestinian officials' meetings with several European officials aiming at continuing discussions over reviving the crippled peace process.

The aim of the contacts and talks with the Europeans and the Americans "is to revive the peace process, implement the roadmap plan for peace in the Middle East and stop the Israeli aggression on our people," Shaath said.

He slammed the reports that US President George W. Bush would offer Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a letter of guarantees that Israel is not committed to withdrawing from the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967.

"If such statements are really true, it would never be considered as guarantees to Israel. It would be considered as violations to international resolutions and signed agreements," said Shaath.

He noted that US officials had denied that there were such US guarantees.

"The Americans said that they would never let Sharon to violate the final status solution after pulling out from the Gaza Strip," he said.

US reportedly to internationalize Israeli disengagement plan

Israeli daily Ma'ariv reported Sunday that the United States is working on a new initiative to internationalize Sharon's plan of disengagement from the Palestinians.

The newspaper said the United States intended to ask the United Nations, the European Union, Egypt and Jordan to fully coordinate with the Palestinians.

However, Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian chief negotiator, told Xinhua that "it is still premature to say that there is a US initiative or a complete plan related to the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories."

He said during the last Palestinian-US meeting held in Jericho in the West Bank, "the US officials said President George W. Bush wishes to end the crisis as soon as possible, see a quick Israeli pullout from Gaza and find a solution leading to two states."

"What could be understood from the US officials that I met with is that they are seeking international support to implement the plan," he said.

"But I can't say that there is an initiative presented to the Palestinian side," he added.

Erekat slammed Israel in spite of the US and international efforts to implement the plan, asserting "Israel is saying something which is completely different from what it does on the ground."

"The United States must be fully responsible for what Israel is doing and carrying out against the Palestinians in the Palestinian territories," said Erekat.

Another newspaper Ha'aretz reported Sunday that US government has agreed to provide a "diplomatic umbrella" to the unilateral disengagement plan of Israel, but refused to deal with the issue of a permanent agreement between Israel and Palestinians.

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2004)