Israel expert: PA order declaration of war

JERUSALEM, July 7 (UPI) -- An Israeli legal commentator has said orders from the Hamas interior minister to "shoot at Israeli forces" may be equivalent to a declaration of war.

Moshe Negbi, usually regarded as left wing in his political views, said the order, from Hamas Authority Minister Said Siyam, could be regarded as a declaration of war, and was certainly a violation of the Oslo Agreements of 1993, Arutz Sheva reported Friday.

Negbi said on Israel Radio that while Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen and Hamas Prime Minister Abu Haniyeh have denied the order, "they must fully rescind the order in order for it to be nullified."

The order marked the first time Palestinian Authority policemen and security forces were instructed to fire on Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza.

Israel, currently engaged in an invasion of Gaza, has not declared war on the Palestinian Authority. Israeli officials have repeatedly said the operation is strictly aimed at fighting terrorists.