The brutal drive-by shooting threatened to ignite a new round of internal Palestinian violence. The officer, linked to the moderate Fatah movement, was twice targeted by the radical Islamic Hamas in the past.

Hamas denied involvement, denounced the shooting and promised a speedy investigation.

The attack came at a time of growing tensions between Hamas and the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 16, 2006
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