Tunnels dug beneath leaders' homes had explosives

[Tux of Borg]

http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Middle_East/10097258.html

 

Fatah says uncovers possible plot against leaders

 

Gaza: Palestinian security forces uncovered an extensive network of tunnels in the Gaza Strip that the Fatah faction said on Monday could have been used to assassinate its top leaders, including President Mahmoud Abbas.

 

The ruling Hamas faction would not say whether it dug the tunnels, discovered by Fatah-dominated security forces in central and northern Gaza on Monday and over the weekend.

 

A Fatah spokesman, AbdulHakim Awad, held Hamas responsible but stopped short of accusing the group of being behind any specific assassination plot.

 

Awad said some of the tunnels were lined with explosives and ran directly beneath the homes of prominent Fatah members.

 

One of the tunnels ran underneath the main road leading to the Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel, a key route used by some Palestinian workers into the Jewish state.

 

The crossing and road are also used by Abbas and Mohammad Dahlan, a possible successor to Abbas, and other Fatah officials to reach the West Bank.

 

"This represents ... a premeditated intention to carry out assassination attempts against leaders and symbols of Fatah," Awad said, singling out Abbas and Dahlan.

 

"Any attack on any of our leaders will turn the Palestinian situation into serious chaos and internal fighting, which will spare no one," Awad said.

 

At least 30 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Abbas of Fatah called for fresh elections last month, raising the stakes in his bitter power struggle with the governing Hamas group.

 

Abbas said he would give negotiations over a unity government with Hamas one last chance.

 

But Fatah's accusations about the tunnels could cast a shadow over the renewed talks.

 

Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, declined to comment on the tunnels.

 

"Hamas will not respond to such media provocations ... in order to provide a positive atmosphere to defuse the crisis and to allow the resumption of national dialogue over the formation of a unity government," Barhoum said.

 

Other Hamas officials said Fatah is violating an agreement to stop trading accusations and maintain calm between the two parties.

 

p to now, Palestinian groups have used tunnels under the Gaza borders with Israel and Egypt for attacking Israeli army posts and smuggling goods and weapons. The last major tunnel operation was in June 25 between Gaza and Israel, when Hamas-linked militias attacked an Israeli army position, killing two soldiers and capturing a third.

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Esmail Haniya said on Monday the Islamist militant group Hamas would never recognise Israel.

 

Haniya said in an interview from Gaza with Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah's Al Manar television station: "Hamas will never recognise the legitimacy of the occupation (Israel)."

 

"Hamas will never show flexibility over the issue of recognising the legitimacy of the occupation," he added.

 

Hamas took control of the Palestinian government last March after winning parliamentary elections a year ago.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Middle_East/10097258.html

 

Fatah says uncovers possible plot against leaders

 

Gaza: Palestinian security forces uncovered an extensive network of tunnels in the Gaza Strip that the Fatah faction said on Monday could have been used to assassinate its top leaders, including President Mahmoud Abbas.

 

The ruling Hamas faction would not say whether it dug the tunnels, discovered by Fatah-dominated security forces in central and northern Gaza on Monday and over the weekend.

 

A Fatah spokesman, AbdulHakim Awad, held Hamas responsible but stopped short of accusing the group of being behind any specific assassination plot.

 

Awad said some of the tunnels were lined with explosives and ran directly beneath the homes of prominent Fatah members.

 

One of the tunnels ran underneath the main road leading to the Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel, a key route used by some Palestinian workers into the Jewish state.

 

The crossing and road are also used by Abbas and Mohammad Dahlan, a possible successor to Abbas, and other Fatah officials to reach the West Bank.

 

"This represents ... a premeditated intention to carry out assassination attempts against leaders and symbols of Fatah," Awad said, singling out Abbas and Dahlan.

 

"Any attack on any of our leaders will turn the Palestinian situation into serious chaos and internal fighting, which will spare no one," Awad said.

 

At least 30 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Abbas of Fatah called for fresh elections last month, raising the stakes in his bitter power struggle with the governing Hamas group.

 

Abbas said he would give negotiations over a unity government with Hamas one last chance.

 

But Fatah's accusations about the tunnels could cast a shadow over the renewed talks.

 

Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, declined to comment on the tunnels.

 

"Hamas will not respond to such media provocations ... in order to provide a positive atmosphere to defuse the crisis and to allow the resumption of national dialogue over the formation of a unity government," Barhoum said.

 

Other Hamas officials said Fatah is violating an agreement to stop trading accusations and maintain calm between the two parties.

 

p to now, Palestinian groups have used tunnels under the Gaza borders with Israel and Egypt for attacking Israeli army posts and smuggling goods and weapons. The last major tunnel operation was in June 25 between Gaza and Israel, when Hamas-linked militias attacked an Israeli army position, killing two soldiers and capturing a third.

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Esmail Haniya said on Monday the Islamist militant group Hamas would never recognise Israel.

 

Haniya said in an interview from Gaza with Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah's Al Manar television station: "Hamas will never recognise the legitimacy of the occupation (Israel)."

 

"Hamas will never show flexibility over the issue of recognising the legitimacy of the occupation," he added.

 

Hamas took control of the Palestinian government last March after winning parliamentary elections a year ago.

 

What a joke the Palestinian Arabs are. When they're not killing Israelis, they're trying to kill themselves.