Hamas ministers fair target: Israel

‘‘Nobody who deals with terror can have immunity by any means, even if he holds a ministerial portfolio in the Hamas government.’’

Hamas said yesterday it will form a security force commanded by Samhadana, who heads a group responsible for rocket attacks on Israel and suspected in a deadly attack on an American convoy.

The US and Israel denounced the plan. Samhadana’s popular resistance committees has launched dozens of homemade rockets at Israel in recent weeks. It also is suspected of involvement in the October 2003 bombing in Gaza of a US Embassy convoy and has bombed Israeli tanks.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas slapped down Hamas’ defiant plan to set up a militants’ army headed by a top fugitive on Israel’s wanted list, ending the cool civility the two sides had shown each other since the Islamic group ousted Abbas’ more moderate Fatah Party from power.