Palestinians Fight Among Themselves

Leader Killed In Car Bombing, Violence At Funeral, News Conference

(CBS/AP)  A top commander of a small militant Palestinian group was killed on Friday when his car mysteriously exploded in flames, and a shootout between rival Palestinian factions erupted shortly after the blast.

The Popular Resistance Committees, whose commander was killed, accused Palestinian security forces of being behind the assassination, raising the possibility of further infighting. Hundreds of gunmen marched through the streets of Gaza City to protest the killing.

Several people were killed and others wounded at the funeral for Abu Yousef Abu Quka, a senior PRC commander. "We have a big mess here," said a hospital worker.

Israel Radio said Abu Quka was responsible for many rocket attacks against Israel, but the Israeli army denied involvement, reports CBS News correspondent Robert Berger.

Hamas' new foreign minister, Mahmoud Zahar, blamed Israel for Abu Quka's death and said it "justifies the process of self-defense to stop the Israeli aggression by all means."

In other developments:

A Palestinian suicide bomber dressed as an Orthodox Jew hitched a ride with Jewish settlers driving in the West Bank, then blew himself up at a gas station at the entrance to the settlement of Kedumim, killing himself and the four Israelis in the car. It was the first time terrorists have entered a private car and blown it up, reports Berger. Israel said the Palestinians had released the bomber from prison just a few weeks ago.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had a quarter of his skull removed during a series of brain operations in early January and neurosurgeons are now considering further surgery next week to reattach it, the Jerusalem Post reported Friday. Sharon has been in a coma since suffering a massive stroke on Jan. 4.

"Kosher" cell phones — carrying the seal of approval from rabbinical authorities — are being marketed to Orthodox Jews in Israel. They keep out worldly temptations: There's no text messaging, no Internet access, no video options, no camera. More than 10,000 numbers for phone sex, dating services and other offerings are blocked. Even some Arab phone companies have expressed interest.

The Palestinian unrest illustrates the widening spiral of violence facing the new Hamas government, which has pledged to restore order in the lawless Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Friday's explosion killed Abu Quka, reducing his white Subaru to a twisted hunk of metal. The group initially blamed Israel, but later accused Palestinian security forces.

PRC spokesman Abu Abir said the Preventive Security Service had been trying to kill Abu Quka for some time, and that that loyalists of Mohammed Dahlan and Samir Masharawi, two Gaza strongmen, were seen spying on Abu Quka's home on Thursday.

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©MMVI CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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