Masseb Bashir, a resident of the central Gaza town of Dir El Balah was
working with the French-based Medecins Sans Frontieres, or "Doctors
Without Border," since 2001, Middle East Newsline reported. Israeli authorities asserted that Bashir used
his entry permit to Israel to collect intelligence for PFLP.
"Bashir said that he had decided several months ago to attack a
senior Israeli VIP in revenge for the deaths of Palestinian civilians," a
government statement said. "He searched the Internet for information on
various members of Knesset, but after he realized that none of them lived in
the Jerusalem area, he decided to try to assassinate Prime Minister Olmert."
Israeli security sources said the PFLP recruited Bashir and ordered him
to conduct reconnaissance at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem.
They said Bashir was also told to collect intelligence on Israeli ministers
and parliamentarians.
But after three months of efforts, Bashir failed to obtain sufficient
information on Olmert's residence. The sources said Bashir told the PFLP
that the residence was ringed with Israeli security guards and could not be
penetrated.
"I did not want to kill him," Bashir said in a Jerusalem court.
Later, Bashir was ordered to assassinate an Israeli archaeologist who
worked near the Temple Mount. Bashr, arrested in April 2007, was
said to have undergone PFLP training in firearms and martial arts.
The Israel Security Agency detained Bashir, who reported working
for the PFLP since September 2006. Bashir was quoted as saying that for
months he had been engaged in gathering intelligence on Israeli officials
and
parliamentarians.
Bashir traveled to Jerusalem on a monthly basis for Medecins Sans
Frontieres. He said he had planned to kill the targeted Israeli
archaeologist with his bare hands.
Medecins Sans Frontieres denied any link to Bashir's activities. The
organization said ISA vetted all staffers who enter Israel.
"We would like to make it very clear that we make a distinction between
his professional work and what he does on his personal time in the sense
that all our staff is hired for professional reasons," Duncan Mclean, the
head of the organization's office in Israel, said. "And I don't think our
organization can be held liable for every aspect of their life."
Israeli Strategic Threats Minister Avigdor Lieberman, an alleged target
of Bashir, said many Palestinians and Westerners have exploited
Western-based NGOs. Lieberman cited the International Solidarity Movement,
said to have organized violent demonstrations against the Israeli military
and Jewish communities in the West Bank.
"I don't understand why they are allowed to operate here," Lieberman
said.
