JERUSALEM — Hizbullah has increased its presence in the
West Bank, Israeli security sources said.
The sources said Hizbullah operates at
least 150 agents, mostly in the northern West Bank.
"Most of the agents are Fatah members, including Palestinian Authority
police officers," a security source said.
Hizbullah has encouraged Fatah to cooperate with other
Iranian-sponsored groups, particularly Islamic Jihad, Middle East Newsline reported. They said Fatah and
Jihad have worked together to recruit and plan suicide strikes in Israel.
The Hizbullah presence was reported in Jenin, Nablus and Tulkarm. On
Tuesday, two Fatah operatives were arrested and a third was killed
during an Israeli military operation in Nablus.
"The three were being directed by Hizbullah to carry out suicide
bombings," a source said. "The three belonged to a terrorist infrastructure
supported and controlled by Hizbullah, and whose function is to carry out
suicide bombings in Israel's home front."
The sources said Tallal Abu Lil, a 33-year-old Nablus resident, had
recruited several suicide bombers. They said Imad Abu Maslem was a Fatah
militia fighter in Nablus and recruited bombers and other in attacks against
the Israeli military.
Hizbullah has sought to expand its network from the northern to southern
West Bank. The sources said Hizbullah has been working with Jihad to
establish an infrastructure in the Hebron area.
On Wednesday, Israel's military killed two Jihad operatives in Jenin in
a gunbattle. No other details were reported.
