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Palestinian TV chief shot and killed in beachside restaurant

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January 18, 2001 

GAZA CITY-- (AP) - The director of Palestinian TV was killed in a seaside restaurant Wednesday when three masked men walked up to his table and shot him repeatedly in the head and chest with a silencer-equipped pistol, police and witnesses said.

The reason for the mafia-style killing was not immediately clear, though some Palestinian security officials said the assailants may have had personal motives.

The victim, Hisham Miki, 54, was very close to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and was a member of Arafat's Fatah movement.

Under Miki, TV broadcasts reflected official Palestinian Authority policy. During the past 15 weeks of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, Palestinian TV dropped its regular fare and filled most of its airtime with footage from clashes and funerals. Israel has complained that the broadcasts were inflammatory and incited to more violence against Israel.

Miki oversaw a staff of dozens of people at Palestinian TV, founded in 1994, and the Palestinian Satellite Channel, which has been broadcasting since last year. In recent months, there had been rumors that Miki was involved in corruption, but that the matter was settled quietly.

Miki, a prominent member of Palestinian society, was to meet friends Wednesday at the restaurant of the Beach Hotel in Gaza City. Miki was sitting alone at a table, waiting for his companions, when three masked men approached, said a witness, who would only give his first name, Ali.

One of the assailants opened fire from a silencer-equipped pistol, the witness said. Doctors initially said Miki was shot three times, but later said an autopsy revealed the gunman fired more than 10 bullets.

Police said Miki's driver, who also served as a bodyguard, was held for questioning. After the killing, police sealed off roads leading to the Palestinian Satellite Channel, which is about 200 meters from Arafat's seaside headquarters. Miki's personal office was located in Arafat's headquarters.

Miki, a father of seven, was close to Arafat, sometimes sitting next to the Palestinian leader in during Friday noon prayers, the highlight of the Muslim holy week. However, the TV director did not serve as an adviser.