RAMALLAH — Threats from Iran-back groups have caused the Palestinian Authority to tighten security around its chairman.
The Presidental Guard has detected threats from Palestinian insurgents
linked to the regime in Teheran, officials said. They said the 2,500-member
force has assessed that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas could be the target of a
plot by operatives from Hamas and the Popular Resistance Committees in the
Gaza Strip.
"The president has been warned to reduce travel, particularly to the
Gaza Strip," an official said.
[On Monday, Palestinian gunners in the northern Gaza Strip fired at
least four missiles into Israel within a minute, Middle East Newsline reported. Israeli military sources
said this marked the first such Palestinian missile salvo and reflected
enhanced capabilities. Nobody was reported injured in the missile strike.]
On Sunday, the London-based Times newspaper said Israel relayed
information of a Hamas plot to assassinate Abbas as well as Dahlan in Gaza
City. The newspaper said Abbas escaped an assassination attempt in the Gaza
Strip in early 2005. Hours later, Hamas denied the report.
The Presidential Guard, meant to receive aid from the European Union,
has been under the direct authority of Abbas. Despite the government
takeover by Hamas, the PA agency remains in contact with Israeli and U.S.
intelligence.
Officials said security around Abbas was significantly increased amid
threats from Hamas leader Mohammed Nazzal, based in Damascus. They said the
Presidential Guard has reinforced its presence around Abbas's home in the
West Bank city of Ramallah. Abbas also maintains a residence in Gaza City.
In April, a group believed linked to Al Qaida network chief Abu Mussib
Al Zarqawi threatened to attack senior officials of Abbas's Fatah movement.
A leaflet by Tawhid and Jihad distributed in the Gaza Strip cited five Fatah
officials and former ministers -- Mohammed Dahlan, Nabil Amr, Yasser Abbed
Rabbo and Samir Mashharawi.
"We hereby declare that we have begun operating in Palestine," the
leaflet said. "We have decided to revive the ritual of slaughter against
these people to avoid dissension."
Over the last few weeks, Hamas operatives were believed to have
sponsored attacks against PA security agencies linked to Abbas. On early
Monday, Fatah and Hamas gunmen clashed near Khan Yunis, killing three people
and injuring eight. The battle erupted hours after Abbas met Prime Minister
Ismail Haniyeh, a session said to have been marred by shouting and threats.
Last week, several bombs composed of plastic explosives were detonated
in front of the homes of two officers of the Preventive Security Apparatus
in the Jabalya refugee camp north of Gaza City. Hamas-aligned elements were
said to have been responsible.
Nobody was injured in the bombings. PSA officers in Jabalya have come
under several attacks in recent weeks.
