08/09/2010 After the Palestinian military operations last week that killed four Israeli settlers and injured two others in occupied Al-Khalil, the Palestinian Authority announced Tuesday that it had arrested six men in connection with the attacks. Palestinian resistance factions criticized the PA arrests for "the desperate attempt to quell resistance" in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinians say the first attack, which killed four settlers of Beit Hagai at a junction near Al-Khalil last Tuesday, was carried out by two shooters and an accomplice.
A similarly composed resistance cell was responsible for the attack that occurred one day later and injured a couple, according to the authority.
Ynet quoted a Palestinian security official as saying that all of those responsible for the shooting attacks are currently in custody. The Palestinian government has condemned the attacks, for which Hamas has claimed responsibility, and promise the culprits would be punished severely.
Two of the arrested are Hamas-affiliated residents of Al-Khalil. The PA has refused to give out official details on arrests made in connection with the fatal attack and has made clear that they have no intention of handing over to Israel anyone arrested in connection with the attacks.
The spate of shootings coincided with the launch of U.S.-backed direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Washington. The Palestinian resistance faction Hamas has come out vocally against the talks, claiming responsibility for the shooting attacks and warning of further attacks.
Meanwhile the Israeli occupation army announced that beginning midnight on Wednesday, Rosh Hashana Eve, the West Bank will be under closure until Saturday night. The move is routine for holidays, but the launching of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians render it somewhat sensitive, Israeli officials say.
The Israeli army has deployed additional troops in the area, who will set up random roadblocks as preventative measures.
Meanwhile, following the wave of detentions in Al-Khalil, Hamas on Wednesday accused the PA of "treason".
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum called the arrests "national treason and direct collaboration with the (Israeli) enemy" and warned the Western-backed authority not to hand the men over to Israel. "The continuation of this criminal campaign crosses all red lines and is direct collaboration with the enemy in the light of day," Barhum said.
"It will only increase Hamas's determination to continue the resistance and intensify our painful strikes on the Zionist enemy."
Hamas has accused the Palestinian Authority of arresting hundreds of its members in the wake of the killings. Palestinian security officials had previously denied making any arrests in connection with the attacks.
On Tuesday Palestinian resistance factions also criticized the PA for "the desperate attempt to quell resistance" in the West Bank.
Speaking to reporters in Gaza City, faction representatives called on the PLO and human rights organizations "not to remain silent" toward the arrests.
"While acts of judaization, the siege, land confiscation, settlement building and an escalation in settler attacks against Palestinians, [PA] security forces are still carrying out a campaign against the resistance," one representative said.
[ 08/09/2010 - 11:48 AM ]
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Hamas movement issued a statement in the West Bank on Tuesday warning the authority of de facto Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas of persisting in its arrest campaign of Hamas leaders and cadres.
"We are running out of patience", the statement said, advising Abbas's militias to take a lesson of what had happened to their counterparts in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas said it was adamant on maintaining the resistance option regardless of all pressures, calling on the human rights groups to follow up the daily torture rounds exercised on Hamas detainees in the PA "slaughterhouses".
For their part, Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza told a press conference on Tuesday that the detention in lines of resistance factions in the West Bank was a "desperate attempt to quell the resistance forces".
They urged the PLO and human rights groups to end their silence towards what is happening in the West Bank.
The factions insisted that resistance was the only strategic option capable of restoring Palestinian rights.
Abbas's militias kidnapped more than 750 carders and supporters of Hamas over the past few days following Al-Khalil and Ramallah attacks on Israeli targets.
Hamas MP Dr. Mahmoud Al-Ramahi described the attacks as political par excellence.
He said in a statement on Tuesday that Salam Fayyad, the illegitimate premier in Ramallah, had publicly declared that the arrests were made in the wake of both operations.
The lawmaker charged that the arrest campaign was launched in line with efforts to terminate resistance and pave the way before endorsing settlement projects.
Meanwhile, Hebrew media said that Abbas's militias had managed on Tuesday night to detain members of the armed cell that launched the two attacks.
An Israeli website said that those militias detained six people suspected of involvement in the attacks.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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