JPost

Iraq-backed terror cell nabbed in West Bank By Margot Dudkevitch

JERUSALEM (November 26) - The General Security Service announced the arrest in the West Bank of at least 15 members of a terrorist organization who were trained, funded and armed by Iraq.

The terrorists belong to the Palestine Liberation Front, headed by Muhammad Abbas, who lives in Iraq. Abbas, who is also the chairman of the Palestinian Authority's National Council, was the mastermind of the October 7, 1985, Achille Lauro cruise ship hijacking, during which disabled Jewish passenger Leon Klinghoffer was killed in his wheelchair and thrown overboard.

According to details of the GSS action, released yesterday, plans to perpetrate attacks at Ben-Gurion Airport and in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were foiled with the recent capture of some of the group's members. The GSS investigation discovered the group's activities were funded by Iraqi security agents, who transferred funds to banks in Jordan and thence to the Palestinian Authority.

The GSS charged Abed Al Razak Yehiye, head of the PA's Monitoring Committee, abused his VIP status granting him immunity from security checks at border crossings to smuggle weapons into the West Bank.

Three of those arrested by the GSS participated in the abduction and subsequent brutal murder of 18-year-old Yuri Gushchin of Pisgat Ze'ev on July 24. They were identified as Matsaka Salah of Jidira, Nidal Ziad of Kalandia and Ahmed Hadir of Atarot, who admitted to kidnaping Gushchin and handing him over to his murderers.

Others admitted to shooting attacks at Israeli vehicles on bypass roads in the areas of Ramallah and Jenin; planting a bomb that exploded at the Haifa Checkpost, wounding five; planting a bomb near Um Tsafa detected before detonating near soldiers; and attempting to place a bomb on a bus transporting soldiers near Jenin, before being spotted by soldiers.

Others arrested in the GSS sweep were identified as Mahmud Kundos of Sinjil, Mamoun Hamdan and Jalal Motsalah of El Bireh, and Alii Udeh of Dir Amar. Hamdan revealed the whereabouts of 40 kilos of components used to make bombs.

In other developments, the GSS and IDF arrested a member of the Islamic Jihad's military cell responsible for a number of shooting attacks at Israeli vehicles and the wounding of motorist Yedidya Koren of Carmel in September. Osama Masalem Ali Sharita of Yatta was arrested at the beginning of this month and confessed to participating in a number of attacks against Israelis in the south Hebron Hills.

Also, the IDF revealed yesterday paratroopers manning the Rama roadblock foiled an attempt by a Palestinian truck driver to smuggle weapons and ammunition from Nablus to Ramallah on Saturday. The IDF Spokesman said the soldiers found ammunition and rifles hidden among bags of vegetables. The driver was handed over to the GSS for questioning.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001