Hamas militants detained for planning West Bank assassinations

Ramallah - The Palestinian Authority (PA) Monday accused the Islamic Hamas movement and its armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, of preparing to assassinate senior Palestinian officials in the West Bank. The plotters have been arrested, PA Secretary-General Tayeb Abdel Rahim told a news conference. 'Following investigations, several Hamas activists have been recently detained. They confessed that they were authorized by the Hamas leadership abroad and by the al-Kassam militants to carry out the assassinations,' he said. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in mid June 2007, after a week of bloody internecine fighting in which its activists routed security forces loyal to the PA and to President Mahmoud Abbas. It has been ruling the enclave since then, and has cracked down on Abbas' Fatah movement. Fatah, for its part, has been arresting Hamas activists in the West Bank, which it still controls. Leaders of both movements are currently in Cairo holding talks to resolve outstanding substantial issues related to reestablishing a unity government which fell apart after the Hamas Gaza takeover. Egypt told the two groups' negotiators that whether they agreed or not, they should sign a reconciliation agreement on July 7. Officials on both sides have traded accusations that each is trying to thwart the dialogue. 'Hamas asked its militants in the West Bank to carry out the assassinations before July 7, the date agreed upon to sign the reconciliation agreement,' Abdel Rahim said. He added that the PA had 'reliable and confidential information saying that the Hamas figures were told to celebrate the success of their assassination operations against Palestinian figures in the West Bank at 2 pm on July 1.' Abdel Rahim's statements came shortly after Palestinian security apparatuses spokesman Adnan Dumiri announced that President Abbas ordered the release of 100 Hamas members previously arrested in the West Bank. 'Those who were detained have nothing to do with the political leadership of Hamas, because the Hamas political leadership is still doing its job properly without being obstructed by the Palestinian Authority,' Abdel Rahim said.