Jerusalem, 25 November 2001
ISA uncovers Iraqi supported Palestinian terrorist cell
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
The Israel Security Agency (ISA) recently uncovered an extensive
terrorist infrastructure in the Ramallah and Jenin areas,
supported by Iraq and the pro-Iraqi Palestine Liberation Front
led by Mahmoud Abbas, an Iraqi based member of the Palestine
National Council. Abbas's deputy is Ala Hasin, aka Ali Mustafa,
who was one of the hijackers of the Achille Lauro and was
responsible for the group's training camps, logistics and the
carrying out of attacks. The terrorists who belonged to this
infrastructure received military training in training camps in
Iraq.
The Iraqis provided financing through their intelligence
services, as well as various military supplies, a portion of
which was smuggled into the Palestinian Authority areas in PA
official Abdul Razek Yehiye's vehicle, which has VIP license
plates and - as per the Oslo Agreement - is not searched at
border crossings.
The ISA has detained more than 15 people, several of whom had
undergone military training in Iraq in which they were trained in
the use of small arms, RPGs, machine guns and hand grenades, as
well as in the use and production of explosives and detonation
systems including electrical, chemical and cellular detonators.
They also participated in military exercises, physical training
and navigation exercises. The foregoing was accompanied by
lectures with a strong ideological content, championing the armed
struggle to liberate Palestine.
Funds for the group were sent from Iraq via couriers, and via
Jordanian banks that used bank-to-bank transfers to send the
money to banks in the PA.
Members of the infrastructure, which planned to perpetrate
spectacular attacks within Israel at Ben Gurion airport as well
as in the centers of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, managed to commit a
number of attacks, among them:
The abduction and murder of the late Yuri Gushchin from
Jerusalem this past July.
Planting a bomb in the vicinity of the Checkpost junction in
Haifa in which three women and two police officers were lightly
wounded.
Planting a bomb aimed at IDF soldiers in the vicinity of Um
Safa. The bomb was discovered and neutralized. In addition,
shooting attacks against vehicles traveling on bypass roads in
the vicinity of Ramallah/Binyamin.
Attempting to plant a bomb on a bus of soldiers in the Jenin
region which was not carried out due to an altercation with an
IDF force.
Following are the main terrorist figures arrested:
1. Muhammed Kundos, resident of Senjil, recruited by PLF
Secretary General Abu el Kabas, in order to direct the activities
of the framework within the boundaries of the PA.
2. Mamoun Hamdan, resident of el-Bireh, responsible for the
acquisition of weapons for the organization. During the course of
his questioning, he revealed 400 kilograms of materials to
construct bombs, which he had bought from merchants dealing in
the sale of chemicals.
3. Jalal Mutzlah, resident of el-Bireh, served as the
organization's courier and passed funds and messages between the
West Bank and Jordan.
4. Ali Udeh, resident of Dir Amar, served as the driver of Abed
el Razek Yehiyeh, head of the PA's monitoring committee, and
smuggled weapons for the organization under the cover of his
immunity.
5. Other terrorists arrested were: Metbah Salah, resident of
Jedirah, Nidal Ziad, resident of Kalandiya and Ahmed Hadir,
resident of Atarot, who were all involved in the abduction of
late Yuri Gushchin and handing him over to his murderers.