JERUSALEM — Israel's military has captured a commander of the
Iranian-sponsored Islamic Jihad.
The military said forces from the army and Israel Security Agency
arrested Mohammed Issa Halil Abeda in Bethlehem, Middle East Newsline reported. Abeda was identified as the
head of Jihad in the Bethlehem area, a key stronghold of the organization in
the West Bank.
"Abeda commanded several Islamic Jihad terror cells and was involved in
the planning and funding of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and
IDF soldiers," the military statement said on Tuesday.
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Officials said Jihad used Bethlehem as a launching pad for attacks on
neighboring Jerusalem as well as the highway to Hebron. They said Jihad was
aided by the ruling Fatah militia, led by Palestinian Authority Chairman
Mahmoud Abbas.
Over the last year, the military has sought to erode the Jihad
leadership in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Several senior commanders,
including the heads of Jihad networks in Jenin and Nablus were killed.
Jihad supporters sought to block the Israeli arrest of Abeda on late
Jan. 28. Scores of Palestinians hurled firebombs, bricks and finally opened
fire toward Israeli forces.
"After a number of rioters opened fire at the soldiers, the forces
returned fire at their lower bodies," the statement said.
