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Shin Bet foils early plot by Hamas to assassinate PM Sharon
Hamas Assassination on Sharon Foiled
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Increased Al-Qaeda activity in Israel and the PA
Israel has filed a report to the UN about increased Al-Qaeda activity in its borders. According to the report, since 2001 Al-Qaeda has made several attempts to infiltrate Israel in order to commit terrorist attacks, which were successfully foiled, and has managed to recruit several local activists successfully, some of whom were captured. Several encitement leaflets appeared to be signed by "Bin Laden's Palestinian Regiment" and called to "follow the footsteps of Bin Laden".
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Warnings: Hezballah intends to attack soon
IDF Intelligence (Aman) warns that Hezballah intends to perform a terrorist attack against Israel in the coming weeks, following a killing of a Hezballah official in Lebanon, which Hezballah blames on Israel. According to Aman, Hezballah is convinced it was perpetrated by Israel and intends to strike in a show of force, rather soon, which will also may help break down the achieved temporary cease fire.
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Kassam rockets falling into center Tel Aviv now "viable possibility"
IDF intelligence (Aman) warns that during the cease fire the Palestinain terrorist organizations are doing their best to arm themselves towards a new round of fighting and are busy transferring knowledge and arms from Gaza, which has been left mostly untouched, to the West Bank which has seen regular activity by IDF troops. A seniour source has been quoted to say that the firing of Kassam rockets into the center of Tel-Aviv is already a viable and existing threat. So far, Kassam rockets have been fired from Gaza to sorrounding Israeli cities and settlements.
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Seniour IDF intelligence sources have warned that Iran is increasing its efforts to destroy the agreed cease fire from the terrorist organizations known as the "Hudna" (arabic cultural: a temporary cease fire for the purpose of re-armorment and gathering greater force). Since the beginning of the reforms in the PA and the Israeli pressure on PA funds, Iran has largely increased it's footstep in funding and controlling Palestinian terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. This also happens as Syria was pressured by the US to scale down it's support for the organizations.
However recent evidence suggests that Iran began financing Arafat's Fatah activists.
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HAMAS DUO PLANNED TO DOWN CHOPPER
By URI DAN
August 5, 2003 -- Two Hamas agents planned to kill Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon by blowing up his helicopter or attacking his motorcade in Jerusalem, but the plot unraveled when they were arrested, it was revealed last night.
One of the agents, Omar Sharif, 19, also admitted to playing a key role in two bus bombings that killed 23 Israelis earlier this year.
Israel's Shin Bet security agency, which revealed the plot against Sharon, said "it was not carried out for technical reasons" but did not elaborate.
However, the plotters suffered a serious blow when their commander, Abdullah Kawasmeh, was killed by Israeli commandos June 21.
Officials in Jerusalem said Sharif and Samer Akhmed Atrash, 19, have been interrogated since their arrest last month.
Sharif confessed that he and Atrash used Israeli ID cards to have several meetings with Kawasmeh in the West Bank town of Hebron to plan attacks - including the Sharon plot.
He said he and Atrash drove two Palestinian terrorists, disguised as Orthodox Jews, into Jerusalem - one on May 18, the other on June 11.
The disguised Hamas men boarded buses and blew themselves up, killing 23 Israelis and wounding more than 100.
But Kawasmeh, a senior Hamas commander and a relative of Sharif, had a grander plan: to kill Sharon as he was en route from his Jerusalem office.
Sharif said Kawasmeh ordered him to study Sharon's movements.
Sources told The Post that one plan under consideration was for Sharif and Atrash to use a missile against Sharon when he took his helicopter from its launching pad near the prime minister's residence.
A second plan was to ignite explosives hidden in a garbage can along the route of Sharon's motorcade. Atrash and Sharif said they were ordered by Kawasmeh to recruit Arab waiters, cleaners and other workers in Jerusalem to carry out attacks on unidentified Israeli dignitaries.
The Hamas plot came to light because of an internal Israeli dispute over how many Palestinian inmates should be released as a goodwill gesture.
Israel announced plans last week to release 540 prisoners, but Sharon had planned to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas tomorrow to explain why it has been reduced to 443.
Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter convinced the government to reduce the list by nearly 100, saying his agents need more time to question detainees.
Sources said yesterday's disclosure of the plot against Sharon was designed to support Dichter's case for holding some inmates longer.
Israel yesterday published a list of those to be released - and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was outraged there were only 342 names, not 443. It was not clear why the number was further reduced. "What is this? Deception?" Arafat said.
With Post Wire Services
By URI DAN
August 5, 2003 -- Two Hamas agents planned to kill Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon by blowing up his helicopter or attacking his motorcade in Jerusalem, but the plot unraveled when they were arrested, it was revealed last night.
One of the agents, Omar Sharif, 19, also admitted to playing a key role in two bus bombings that killed 23 Israelis earlier this year.
Israel's Shin Bet security agency, which revealed the plot against Sharon, said "it was not carried out for technical reasons" but did not elaborate.
However, the plotters suffered a serious blow when their commander, Abdullah Kawasmeh, was killed by Israeli commandos June 21.
Officials in Jerusalem said Sharif and Samer Akhmed Atrash, 19, have been interrogated since their arrest last month.
Sharif confessed that he and Atrash used Israeli ID cards to have several meetings with Kawasmeh in the West Bank town of Hebron to plan attacks - including the Sharon plot.
He said he and Atrash drove two Palestinian terrorists, disguised as Orthodox Jews, into Jerusalem - one on May 18, the other on June 11.
The disguised Hamas men boarded buses and blew themselves up, killing 23 Israelis and wounding more than 100.
But Kawasmeh, a senior Hamas commander and a relative of Sharif, had a grander plan: to kill Sharon as he was en route from his Jerusalem office.
Sharif said Kawasmeh ordered him to study Sharon's movements.
Sources told The Post that one plan under consideration was for Sharif and Atrash to use a missile against Sharon when he took his helicopter from its launching pad near the prime minister's residence.
A second plan was to ignite explosives hidden in a garbage can along the route of Sharon's motorcade. Atrash and Sharif said they were ordered by Kawasmeh to recruit Arab waiters, cleaners and other workers in Jerusalem to carry out attacks on unidentified Israeli dignitaries.
The Hamas plot came to light because of an internal Israeli dispute over how many Palestinian inmates should be released as a goodwill gesture.
Israel announced plans last week to release 540 prisoners, but Sharon had planned to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas tomorrow to explain why it has been reduced to 443.
Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter convinced the government to reduce the list by nearly 100, saying his agents need more time to question detainees.
Sources said yesterday's disclosure of the plot against Sharon was designed to support Dichter's case for holding some inmates longer.
Israel yesterday published a list of those to be released - and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was outraged there were only 342 names, not 443. It was not clear why the number was further reduced. "What is this? Deception?" Arafat said.
With Post Wire Services
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Increased Al-Qaeda activity in Israel and the PA
Israel has filed a report to the UN about increased Al-Qaeda activity in its borders. According to the report, since 2001 Al-Qaeda has made several attempts to infiltrate Israel in order to commit terrorist attacks, which were successfully foiled, and has managed to recruit several local activists successfully, some of whom were captured. Several encitement leaflets appeared to be signed by "Bin Laden's Palestinian Regiment" and called to "follow the footsteps of Bin Laden".
--
Warnings: Hezballah intends to attack soon
IDF Intelligence (Aman) warns that Hezballah intends to perform a terrorist attack against Israel in the coming weeks, following a killing of a Hezballah official in Lebanon, which Hezballah blames on Israel. According to Aman, Hezballah is convinced it was perpetrated by Israel and intends to strike in a show of force, rather soon, which will also may help break down the achieved temporary cease fire.
--
Kassam rockets falling into center Tel Aviv now "viable possibility"
IDF intelligence (Aman) warns that during the cease fire the Palestinain terrorist organizations are doing their best to arm themselves towards a new round of fighting and are busy transferring knowledge and arms from Gaza, which has been left mostly untouched, to the West Bank which has seen regular activity by IDF troops. A seniour source has been quoted to say that the firing of Kassam rockets into the center of Tel-Aviv is already a viable and existing threat. So far, Kassam rockets have been fired from Gaza to sorrounding Israeli cities and settlements.
--
Seniour IDF intelligence sources have warned that Iran is increasing its efforts to destroy the agreed cease fire from the terrorist organizations known as the "Hudna" (arabic cultural: a temporary cease fire for the purpose of re-armorment and gathering greater force). Since the beginning of the reforms in the PA and the Israeli pressure on PA funds, Iran has largely increased it's footstep in funding and controlling Palestinian terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. This also happens as Syria was pressured by the US to scale down it's support for the organizations.
However recent evidence suggests that Iran began financing Arafat's Fatah activists.
Security sources: Iran has financed most attacks since truce
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
Most terror attacks carried out since the cease-fire agreement between the Palestinian Authority and militant factions was signed in June were organized by Fatah members, who received orders and financing from Iran, security officials said Tuesday.
According to security sources, the militant organizations are also trying to send
representatives abroad through the Rafah crossing in the Gaza Strip, which borders the Israel-Egypt frontier.
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
Most terror attacks carried out since the cease-fire agreement between the Palestinian Authority and militant factions was signed in June were organized by Fatah members, who received orders and financing from Iran, security officials said Tuesday.
According to security sources, the militant organizations are also trying to send
representatives abroad through the Rafah crossing in the Gaza Strip, which borders the Israel-Egypt frontier.
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