If the bombing of an American Embassy convoy on Wednesday in Gaza was indeed intended as an attack on the United States, it would be a striking change in the tactics employed by violent Palestinian factions. Palestinians frequently express anger at the United States for its political and military support of Israel, but even the most extreme groups say that their battle is with Israel, and that they oppose striking American targets. “There is only one enemy — Israel,” said Adnan Asfour, a member of Hamas, the group that has carried out the largest number of suicide bombings. “Hamas has a fixed position: it aims not to expand the circle of violence” beyond Israeli targets. Still, suspicion immediately fell on the Palestinian factions after the blast, which killed three Americans and wounded a fourth, all of them working as contract security guards and traveling in an armored Chevrolet Suburban that was escorting American diplomats into the Gaza Strip. In addition to suicide bombings in Israel, Hamas has planted big roadside bombs in Gaza that were powerful enough to destroy Israeli tanks. Yet the Palestinian factions, which quickly claim responsibility for attacks against Israel, all denied involvement in the bombing and reiterated their opposition to striking at Americans. Full Story
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