PALESTINE - Mar 19 - Hamas Claims Shooting Of An Israeli On Border.

The armed wing of Hamas claims responsibility for the shooting of an Israeli civilian near the border with the Gaza Strip. It was the first attack on Israel claimed by that Islamic movement since a shaky cease-fire came into effect in November, and it came as Hamas leaders tried to gain international legitimacy for a new Palestinian unity government that they head. Kobi Ohion, 42, an Israel Electric Corporation employee, was shot and wounded Mar 19 by a sniper while working at a fuel depot on the Israeli side of the border, north of the Karni commercial crossing point between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Hamas's militant underground, the Qassam Brigades, also said it had fired two mortar shells across the border, but an Israeli Army spokesman had no knowledge of that incident. Also Mar 19, the Egyptian authorities said they had detained a Palestinian in northern Sinai who intended to carry out a suicide bombing in Israel, and who also belongs to Hamas. The events highlighted the discord that has become apparent between the more moderate local leaders of Hamas, like the PM, Ismail Haniya, and the militants who are said to take orders from the hard-line leadership in exile headed by Khaled Mashal. In his inaugural speech before the Palestinian Parliament on Mar 17, Haniya affirmed the Palestinians' "legitimate right" to resist occupation "by all means". But he also said his new government wanted to consolidate the truce with Israel and expand it from Gaza to the West Bank. Hamas has claimed to honor the truce with Israel, though Israeli security officials say it is still smuggling weapons and explosives into the Gaza Strip and has built up a well-organised force there, with sniping and infantry units, and anti-tank crews. The continued rocket attacks on Israel have been attributed to the smaller, more extremist Islamic Jihad and the fringe Popular Resistance Committees, neither of which joined the unity government. The Mar 19 shooting coincided with a visit to Gaza by the deputy foreign minister of Norway, Raymond Johansen. His meeting with Haniya was the first by a high-level Western official. The FM of Italy telephoned Haniya to offer his support for the new government. Palestinian leaders are hoping that the new unity government, which includes members from the mainstream Fatah and several independents, can end the international diplomatic and economic embargo that was imposed on the PA more than a year ago, after Hamas won the elections and formed its first government. Hamas is considered a terrorist organisation by Israel, the US and the EU. Israel has decided to boycott the unity government on the ground that it does not meet the international conditions that were set for its acceptance, including recognising Israel's right to exist and renouncing violence. Miri Eisin, a spokeswoman for the PM of Israel, said the shooting was "a direct result" of Haniya's talk of the right of resistance. "We hope the international community will take note of this government's deeds and words", she said. The Palestinian information minister, Mustafa Barghouti, an independent, acknowledged that "some actions undermine" the new government's efforts and said that the goal was a complete cease-fire. A spokesman for the Qassam Brigades explained the attack as revenge for Israeli actions in the West Bank. "The enemy has been violating calm day and night", the spokesman said, adding that the "government platform allows for resistance in all forms". Tensions have been surfacing in Hamas, with some hard-line figures expressing their opposition to certain elements of the government platform. Reports also suggested that members of the armed underground members of Hamas are angry about the coalition with rival Fatah. Another cause of friction was the appointment on Mar 18 of Muhammad Dahlan, a Fatah strongman from Gaza, as national security adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas. There has been bad blood for years between Hamas and Dahlan, who led a crackdown against the Islamic movement when he headed the Preventive Security apparatus in Gaza in the 1990s. Salah Bardawil, the parliamentary spokesman for Hamas, called Dahlan a "provocative personality" and accused him of playing a lead role in the recent bloodletting between Fatah and Hamas. The Hamas bloc is calling on Abbas to review the appointment.