Middle East

By Lisa Beyer

Both Israeli and Palestinian officials have denied any involvement in the death last week of MUHIADDIN AL-SHARIF, who was wanted by both Israeli and Palestinian security officials for his role in a spate of deadly explosions. Despite this, al-Sharif's colleagues in the militant organization Hamas blamed both sides and vowed vengeance, leaving Israeli officials bracing themselves for a renewal of the terrorist-bombing campaign that has claimed the lives of 155 people since 1993.

According to both Israeli and Palestinian sources, the West Bank branch of Izzaddin al-Kassam, the military wing of Hamas, has recently gone independent from the group's leadership in the Gaza Strip. Says a Hamas guerrilla in the West Bank: "We are no longer waiting for the orders to come from Gaza." Izzaddin al-Kassam's West Bank commander, ADEL AWEDALLAH, is said to be hungry for action. "He knows his days are numbered," says a ranking Israeli army officer. "We're after him, the Palestinians are after him, and he's trying to do everything he can before one of us catches him, dead or alive." A cohort in the Gaza Strip called talk of a split "ridiculous," but added, "I know there are independent ideas on the interpretation and application of orders."

Israeli officials have responded to the threat by issuing alerts and heightening security in crowded places. But, given the bloodlust after al-Sharif's death, even the most optimistic among them do not expect the quiet to hold indefinitely.

--By Lisa Beyer. With reporting by Jamil Hamad/Gaza Strip and Aharon Klein/Jerusalem

With reporting by Jamil Hamad/Gaza Strip and Aharon Klein/Jerusalem