Israel has increased security for Cabinet ministers after the Palestinian resistance group Hamas threatened to target Israeli leaders, an official said Monday. Hamas made the threat in response to Israel's killing of a Hamas founder, Ibrahim Makadmeh, in a missile attack in Gaza over the weekend. An aide to Interior Minister Avraham Poraz said the Defense Ministry had assigned two bodyguards to Poraz as part of a general increase in security for ministers in the wake of the Hamas threat.

"Because of the threats, he was given a guard," Poraz's aide Tibi Rabinovich said. "He was given one at home as well."

Raanan Gissin, an adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said security is increased when there are serious concerns. "The whole thing is subject to intelligence alerts."

Makadmeh was killed after Hamas killed 15 Israelis and three Americans in a bus bombing and a shooting attack last week.

Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader, warned Sunday that Israel had "opened a new gate to violence" and that Israeli political leaders would now be targeted.

Israel has been especially sensitive to such threats since Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi was assassinated in October 2001 by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, soon after Israel killed a leader of the group.

Security has also been beefed up in the Israeli town of Kochav Yair, which is close to the West Bank and home to several senior figures, including Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, the Yediot Ahronot newspaper reported Monday.

PHOTO CAPTION

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon arrives with his security and a media entourage for the weekly Cabinet meeting in his Jerusalem office Sunday March 9, 2003. (AP Photo/POOL, David Silverman) - Mar 09 5:30