TEL AVIV ø Israel has captured an insurgency commander in the
northern West Bank who planned a nonconventional attack against the Jewish
state.
Israeli military sources said a combined force of infantry troops and
intelligence agents captured Imad Mazuz Ali Akuba on May 28. The sources
identified Akuba as a senior operative of the Fatah insurgency in Nablus who
planned both conventional and unconventional attacks against Israel.
"Akuba also planned to attempt and carry out other explosive device
attacks, with explosives carrying blood infected by the Aids virus," a
military source said.
Akuba, 29, was said to have been responsible for numerous suicide
attacks in Israel. Akuba was said to have directed the production of
explosive belts and devices.
The sources said Akuba also oversaw the recruitment of suicide bombers.
He also handled the recruits and designated targets.
Nablus was said to have been a major Fatah stronghold in the West Bank.
Fatah cells have engaged in both insurgency as well as criminal activity,
including attacks on Palestinian merchants.
Akuba was said to have planned attacks with such groups as Hamas,
Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. In
January 2004, Akuba directed a suicide bombing plot in a major Israeli city
in cooperation with Jihad operatives. The explosive belt accidentally
detonated
before his target.
In June 2003, Akuba also recruited a Palestinian to blow himself up in a
restaurant in the Israeli city of Holon. The attack was aborted. In February
2004, Akuba was ordered to recruit a suicide attacker in cooperation with
Fatah in Jenin.
In March 2002, Akuba was responsible for the production of an explosive
belt for an operative meant to carry out a suicide attack at the entrance to
the Israeli city of Ariel, the sources said. Ten Israeli civilians and
soldiers were wounded in the bombing.
The last major attack planned by Akuba was in March 2004. The sources
said Akuba directed an insurgency from a village near the West Bank city of
Kalkilya launch a shooting and grenade attack against an Israeli bus.
On Tuesday, Israeli security sources said nine Islamic Jihad insurgents
were captured in the West Bank city of Kalkilya. The sources said the
insurgents were accused of seeking to place bombs along the
newly-established security fence.
