RAMALLAH ø Palestinian insurgency groups have targeted U.S.
nationals in the West Bank.
Israeli intelligence sources have warned the United States that its
nationals were being identified by the ruling Fatah movement in Palestinian
Authority areas in the West Bank. The sources said the greatest threat to
U.S. nationals has come from Palestinian insurgents in the northern West
Bank.
The Israeli government has warned foreign journalists to stay away from
Nablus until at least Friday. So far, there have not been any reports of
attacks on U.S. or foreign nationals in the West Bank, Middle East Newsline reported.
Fatah, the sources said, has sought to abduct U.S. nationals,
particularly
journalists. But the sources said other Western nationals could also be
kidnapped in Nablus over the next 48 hours.
In October, a Fatah unit took responsibility for the bombing of a U.S.
embassy convoy in the northern Gaza Strip. Three U.S. security officers were
killed in the attack which the U.S. intelligence community has determined
was approved by PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.