Jerusalem 1 May 2002
Palestinian Authority Security Services were involved in directing attacks and preparing bombs by Tanzim operatives in the Jenin refugee camp
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Ahmed Hussein Muhammed Abu Jildeh, 28, a Tanzim operative and resident
of the Jenin refugee camp, was arrested by IDF forces in the course
of Operation Defensive Shield on April 10, 2002.
During questioning, Abu Jildeh admitted his ramified involvement in the
Tanzim, including his participation in numerous terrorist attacks.
Ahmed described the network of links between PA National Security and
Tanzim members, adding that the former instructed the Tanzim
operatives in preparing bombs and even supervised their actions.
Abu Jildeh joined the Tanzim about four to five months ago at the behest
of Ziad Zabayde, a senior Tanzim operative in the Jenin refugee camp.
Abu Jildeh joined a cell that was engaged in recruiting suicide
terrorists, filming them as they recited their wills, preparing their
bombs and dispatching them to perpetrate their attacks. He also
admitted to transferring payment for the purchase of a rifle for use
in a future suicide attack in Haifa. He personally took part in two
December 2001 attacks in which shots were fired at the Jewish
community of Kadim, near Jenin.
During the recent fighting in Jenin, Abu Jildeh, along with other senior
Tanzim operatives, prepared bombs which were used against IDF forces.
They purchased the chemicals for several of the bombs with funds
supplied by senior Tanzim member Jamal Ahweil, who was also arrested
in the course of Operation Defensive Shield. Abu Jildeh admitted to also
helping to prepare approximately 300 bombs that were designed to be
detonated by lit fuses. He also helped to prepare approximately 20
larger bombs with electric fuses, two of which were hidden near the
refugee camp mosque.
Ahmed Abu Jildeh added that a senior member of the Palestinian National Security
had instructed him and others in preparing the bombs and even stayed
with them in the same apartment where they did their work. Abu Walid,
responsible for security and intelligence in the Jenin area, with the
rank of lieutenant-colonel, and an organizer of many military
actions, frequented the apartment in order to oversee operations.
Ahmed said that Ziad Zabayde and Abd al Karim Aweis were responsible
for the cell's links with Marwan Barghouti, from whom they received instructions and funds.
Abu Jildeh said that Jamal Ahweil regularly updated PA Chairman Yasser
Arafat's office on the cell's members in order to receive funds.