Egypt said Tuesday it hoped Israel's withdrawal from reoccupied parts of the West Bank would signal a new policy of non-aggression, but saw the resumption of assassinations of Palestinians as a "very bad sign," reported AFP.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters that he hoped Israeli troop withdrawals from some Palestinian areas it had reoccupied was a "serious beginning" and that Israel would abandon its "policy of aggression."
Asked about Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's controversial decision to continue killing suspected terrorists, Maher said Egypt had already condemned the policy along with the rest of the world.
"Resorting to this policy again is a very bad sign," Maher said.
"We hope it will stop, or that it has stopped, and that the partial withdrawal is the beginning of a new intelligent policy which will lead to security for all parties," he added.
But the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi on Wednesday was seen by analysts as a continuation of the cycle of violence and counter-violence marking the latest Palestinian Intifada against 34 years of Israeli military occupation.
Assassination, or “targeted killing,” is an officially adopted Israeli policy, of which Zeevi was a vocal advocate.
Israel on Tuesday killed a third member of the Hamas resistance group in as many days in a blast in the Gaza Strip - Albawaba.com
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