Ramallah - Security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas have arrested in Ramallah a man who received three million
euros from the Islamic Hamas movement for an alleged assassination
plot, a security source said Saturday.
The source, who spoke in condition of anonymity, said Hamas
transferred the money to the man identified as Zaher Abu Jebba 'under
the pretext of purchasing goods and construction materials.'
'The arrest of the man and the money found with him is linked to
Hamas plans to assassinate senior Palestinian Authority officials in
the West Bank,' said the source.
'The man confessed that the money was intended to be transferred
to Hamas movement in the West Bank under the pretext of purchasing
goods and construction materials.'
Since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, Abbas
security forces has been cracking down on Hamas movement in the West
Bank amid a perceived threat of Hamas also seizing control there.
Last week, secretary general of the Palestinian Authority, Tayeb
Abdel Rahim revealed that the PA security arrested two weeks ago six
Hamas members were planning to kill senior PA officials.
Abu Jebba was arrested in an apartment in Ramallah, with a Gaza
woman, said the source, adding: 'When she was asked about her
presence with the man, she said they are friends and she is there for
medical treatment.'
The source said: 'The detained man has direct contacts with Hamas
and its armed wing al-Qassam Brigades. The three million euros were
transferred from Gaza to Ramallah through a money exchange agent.'
Hamas and Fatah failed in Cairo talks last week to reach a
reconciliation deal ending their rift, and Egyptian mediatiors have
set another target date for an agreement to be reached by July 28.
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