TEL AVIV — Israel has found that Hizbullah was financing operational cells of the ruling Fatah movement in
the West Bank.
Officials said the Iran-sponsored organization has been financing and directing around a dozen
cells of Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Middle East Newsline reported. They said most of the cells were
located in the northern West Bank, particularly in the areas of Jenin and
Nablus.
"These cells contain more than a few members of the Palestinian
Authority security forces," an official said. "The motive for Fatah is
purely financial."
The Hizbullah-financed Fatah cells have been responsible for numerous
attacks on Israeli military and civilian targets. The officials said
Hizbullah has ordered Fatah operatives to begin attacking targets within
Israel, particularly in the Tel Aviv area.
One plot financed by Hizbullah was a Fatah operation to poison food at a
restaurant in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan. Two Nablus operatives --
identified as Ihab Abu Riyal and Anas Salum -- who managed to obtain a job
at the restaurant were recruited by Fatah and directed by Hizbullah.
"The two men were recruited into a military cell of the Al Aqsa Martyrs
Brigades, directed and financed by Hizbullah," a government statement said
on April 10.
The statement said the two Fatah operatives were to have received a
tasteless and odorless white poison from the Hizbullah-financed cell in the
Balata refugee camp outside Nablus. The poison was said to activate four
hours after ingestion.
Officials said Hizbullah has also ordered the recruitment of suicide
bombers for attacks in Israel. They identified a key Hizbullah-directed
operative as Honi Tzalag, who has been recruiting Palestinian laborers to
stage mass-casualty strikes in the Jewish state.
