Background Paper
October 22, 1998
- Among the issues raised by Israel at the talks taking place at
Wye Mills, Maryland, is the matter of the "transfer" of Palestinians
wanted for murder, terrorist attacks and other crimes committed in
Israel or against Israeli citizens.
- The Palestinian Authority is obligated under the "Interim
Agreement" to assent to Israeli requests for the arrest and transfer
of suspects to Israel.
- This matter was dealt with explicitly in the "Protocol Concerning
the Redeployment in Hebron" (Jan. 1997), wherein the Palestinians
reiterated their committment as stated in the "Interim Areement".
- Israel has presented two lists (Mar. 31, 1997 & Sept. 17, 1997)
containing 36 specific requests for transfers to the PA. As of this
date Israel has received no response to its requests.
- Moreover, 12 suspects mentioned in these lists have been employed
by the the Palestinian Police in the past or present, or are
undergoing recruitment into that organization.
- Notwithstanding the formal issues regarding Palestinian
non-compliance with a signed agreement this is a monstrous absurdity
whereby those who have committed murder, mayhem and other terrorist
acts not only go unpunished but are actually entrusted with official
responsibilities, including policework. This while both sides are
supposed to be building mutual trust as part of the process of
reconcilliation.
This situation is especially intolerable when viewed from the vantage
point of those who have either been wounded or have lost their loved
ones in terrorist attacks. Rightfully, they refuse to accept a
situation whereby the criminals whose actions have scarred them or
murdered their loved ones go unpunished, live their lives freely and
in some circumstances even act in an official capacity for Israel's
"partner" in peace, the PA.
Following is the list of suspects as of today October 22, 1998:
1. Col. Ghazi Jabali - Commander of the Palestinian Police Force.
Suspected of organizing terrorist cells within the Palestinian police
and issuing instructions to Palestinian policemen to carry out terror
attacks against Israelis.
2. Imjad Muhammad Hinawi - member of Hamas who took part in the
murder of 16-year old David Boim, an American-Israeli citizen, in
Beit El in May 13, 1996. The PA detained Hinawi but subsequently
released him in February 1997 on holiday leave for the Id al-Fitr
festival.
3. Ibrahim Ghneimat - member of the Tzurif terror cell who was
involved in numerous terror attacks against Israelis. He took part in
the kidnapping and murder of Israeli soldier Sharon Edri and planned
the March 21, 1997 bombing at a Tel Aviv caf which killed Yael
Gilad, Anat Rozen-Winter and Michal Avrahami. He was also involved in
the murder of Yaron and Efrat Ungar on June 9, 1996 and the murder of
Uri, Rachel and Zeev Munk on July 26, 1996. He murdered major Oz
Tivon and sargent Yaniv Schimmel.
31 Formal Requests Previously Submitted to the PA
4. Ibrahim Salah Mustafa Alkam - suspect in the murder of Etta Tzur
and her 12-year old son Ephraim on December 11, 1996, who were shot
to death by terrorists near Beit El while driving in their car.
5. Abdel Nasser Ismail Hassin Alkaisi - suspect in the murder of Etta
Tzur and her 12-year old son Ephraim on December 11, 1996, who were
shot to death by terrorists near Beit El while driving in their car.
6. Ibrahim Massad Elias Hani - suspect in the murder of Etta Tzur and
her 12-year old son Ephraim on December 11, 1996, who were shot to
death by terrorists near Beit El while driving in their car.
7. Bassam Khalil Abdel Rahman Aram - resident of Khan Yunis; suspect
in the attempted murder of Zvi Fixler at Moshav Gan-Or on December
10, 1993. He was arrested and then set free by the Palestinian police
and is now active in the Palestinian security forces.
8. Yasser Muhammad Musa Aram - resident of Khan Yunis; active in
Islamic Jihad; suspected of involvement in the attempted murder of
Zvi Fixler at Moshav Gan-Or on December 10, 1993. He was arrested and
then set free by the Palestinian police. There are indications that
he may have joined the Palestinian security forces.
9. Abdallah Mahmoud Samiri - suspect in the murder of 75-year old
Naftali Sahar near Rehovot on February 10, 1994. Sahar, a farmer, was
found dead in his orange grove after having been beaten with an iron
bar. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
10. Bassam Subhi Issa - suspected of involvement in the terror attack
on Yoel Solomon street in Jerusalem on October 9, 1994. Two people
were killed and eight injured in the attack when terrorists opened
fire on the crowded street lined with open-air cafes. He also took
part in the murder of three IDF soldiers in April 1993. He was
arrested and later released by the Palestinian police, and was then
drafted to serve in Jibril Rajoub's Palestinian Preventive Security
Service. He planned the suicide bombing at the International Center
for Congresses in Jerusalem in December 1994, in which 13 soldiers
were injured.
11. Hisham Salim Dib - suspected on involvement in the suicide
bombing attack at Dizengoff Center on March 4, 1996. 13 people were
killed in the attack, for which Hamas claimed responsibility.
12. Nafez Mahmoud Sabih - suspected of involvement in planning the
two suicide bombing attacks on Bus 18 in Jerusalem on February 25 and
March 2, 1996, and the suicide bombing attack in Ashkelon on February
25, 1996. A total of 45 people were killed in the three attacks, for
which Hamas claimed responsibility. Among the victims were 2 American
citizens - Sara Duker and Matthew Eisenfeld.
13. Imad Mahmoud Issa Abbas - suspect in the murder of Moshe Bino and
Amikam Zaltzman, who were stabbed to death in their Karni vegetable
packing house near Gaza by terrorists posing as buyers on June 25,
1992.
14. Atef Hamadan - suspect in the attempted kidnapping and murder of
an IDF soldier on September 18, 1992, and the murder of several
Palestinians suspected on collaborating with Israel. In September
1996, he was arrested and then released by the Palestinian police,
and was drafted to serve in Jibril Rajoub's Palestinian Preventive
Security Service.
15. Rajah Khalil Ali Abu-Sita - resident of Khan Yunis; a Fatah
activist who is suspected of involvement in the murder of Uri
Megiddish of Gan-Or on March 9, 1993. Israel formally requested his
transfer on September 29, 1994. On December 24, 1994, the
Palestinians rejected Israel's request. He has since been arrested by
the Palestinian police for having killed a local Palestinian. He
confessed to the crime, was tried, and is currently awaiting
sentencing.
16. Amru Abdallah Abu-Sita - resident of Khan Yunis; a Fatah activist
who is suspected of involvement in the murder of Uri Megiddish of
Gan-Or on March 9, 1993. Israel formally requested his transfer on
September 29, 1994. On December 24, 1994, the Palestinians rejected
Israel's request.
17. Salah Mustafa Othman - resident of Jabalya, Gaza; member of the
Hamas military wing, took part in the attack on Bus 25 in Jerusalem
on July 1, 1993 (attempted to commandeer the bus with two
accomplices, shot and killed two Israeli passengers, Olga
Chaikov and Jannet Kadosh, and wounded several others). Israel
formally requested his transfer on several occasions: January 26,
1995, August 29, 1995 and September 6, 1995.
18. Iyad Hamdi Abu-Shakafa - resident of Khan Yunis; Fatah member
suspected in the attempted murder of Shaul David in Ramle on February
9, 1994. Israel formally requested his transfer on several occasions:
September 13, 1994, December 13, 1994, August 22, 1995 and September
6, 1995. Currently serving in the Palestinian police.
19. Iyad Abdelkader Ismail Basheeti - resident of Rafah, Gaza; Hamas
member, suspected of involvement in the murder of two Israelis,
Gil Revach and Shlomo Kapach in Ramle on August 26, 1994. Israel
formally requested his transfer on several occasions: August 28,
1994 and August 22, 1995. He was arrested and then set free by
the Palestinian police, who then apparently drafted him to join
their ranks.
20. Yusuf Mahmoud Abdelaziz Malahi - resident of Rafah, Gaza; Hamas
member, suspected of involvement in the murder of two Israelis in
Ramle on August 26, 1994. Israel formally requested his transfer on
August 28, 1994 and August 22, 1995. He was arrested and then set
free by the Palestinian police, and is currently in the process of
being drafted to serve in their ranks.
21. Shahdi Subhi Abdel Rahman Abu Khaja - suspect in the attempted
murder of Shimon Dror on September 19, 1994. Israel formally
requested his transfer on several occasions: December 13, 1994,
August 29, 1995 and September 6, 1995. The PA has failed to respond
to the Israeli requests. An accomplice to the crime, Majdi Khalifa,
was caught by Israel and is currently serving a 12-year prison
sentence.
22. Yusuf Muhammad Ahmed Raghi - resident of Kalkilya; participated
in the murder of two Israeli hikers, Ohad Bachrach and Uri Shahor in
Wadi Kelt on July 18, 1995. Israel formally requested his transfer on
September 13, 1995 and November 14, 1995. He was arrested by
Palestinian Intelligence in September 1995 and sentenced to 7 years
in prison.
23. Shaher Ali Ahmed Raghi - resident of Kalkilya; participated in
the murder of two Israeli hikers, Ohad Bachrach and Uri Shahor in
Wadi Kelt on July 18, 1995. Israel formally requested his transfer on
September 13, 1995 and November 14, 1995. He was arrested by
Palestinian Intelligence in September 1995 and sentenced to 7 years
in prison and hard labor. He remains under detention by the
Palestinian General Intelligence Service.
24. Khader Saba Yakub Abu Abra - resident of Beit Jallah, Bethlehem;
member of the PFLP, suspected of attempts to obtain weapons for the
PFLP, and apparently issued instructions to the attackers who killed
two Israeli hikers in Wadi Kelt on July 18, 1995. Israel formally
requested his transfer on September 13, 1995 and November 14, 1995.
He was arrested by the Palestinian police on February 15, 1996 in the
wake of a grenade attack on a joint patrol near Beit Jallah. He was
held until May 1996, when he was released and placed under house
arrest.
25. Abd al-Majid Dudin - resident of Dura; Hamas member, trained
people to carry out suicide bombings, including the terrorist who
attacked Bus 26 in Jerusalem in August 1995. Three people were killed
in the attack, including Joan Davenny, a schoolteacher from
Connecticut, and 103 others were injured. Israel formally requested
his transfer on March 12, 1996. He was arrested by the Palestinian
police in July 1996 and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
26. Ala Ahmed Abd al-Munim Salah - resident of Khan Yunis; member of
the DFLP; suspected of involvement in the murder of Yossi Zindani in
Beni-Ayish on March 31, 1994. Israel formally requested his transfer
on July 10, 1996. He was recently arrested by the Palestinian police,
apparently in connection with criminal activity.
27. Awad Silmi - resident of Gaza; took part in many terror attacks,
including the murder of Lt. Col. Meir Mintz and various shooting
attacks, and was connected to at least one suicide bombing attack.
Israel formally requested his transfer on March 13, 1996. Currently
detained by the Palestinian Preventive Intelligence Service.
28. Ibrahim Lateef Shaheed - resident of Tulkarem; Fatah member
wanted for the murder of Labib Latif Shadeed, a suspected
collaborator with Israel, on October 12, 1994. Fled to Jericho and is
active under the protection of the Palestinian Preventive Security
Service. Israel requested his transfer on June 18, 1995 and September
6, 1995. Currently serves in the Palestinian police in Tulkarem.
29. Khalil Abdel Rahman Abadi - suspect in the murder of his brother
on March 13, 1995. The motive is believed to have been his brother's
alleged collaboration with Israel or perhaps a family dispute. Israel
formally requested his transfer on August 29, 1995.
30. Nabil Hassan Abu Khader - Murdered his sister in Jerusalem on
20.7.94. Israel formally requested his transfer twice.
31. Billal Natzri Rasheed Ayash - Perpetrated an armed robbery in
the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem on 21.12.94. Israel formally
requested his transfer twice.
32-33. Haled Mahmoud Amru and Hassan Ahmed Rashaida - In the years
1995-96, stole dozens of vehicles in Israel taking them to the
Palestinian Authority in order to dismantle and sell them as spare
parts. Their transfer was requested twice.
34. Abed El-Nasser Muhamad Mahmoud Razek - Kidnapped and murdered
Shmuel Ben Baruch in 14.8.97. His transfer was requested.