November 21, 2009

Israel arrests 5 top PA intelligence officers

Press TV - November 21, 2009 11:25:59 GMT


Five senior Palestinian General Intelligence Service officers have been detained by Israeli forces near the West Bank village of Salfit in an overnight raid.

The detainees include Salfit region intelligence commander Mohammad Abdel Hamid.

The Israeli military has also demanded the Palestinians hand over an additional officer who was not apprehended.

A Palestinian security source said the Friday morning arrests were apparently made in the wake of an investigation being carried out by the General Intelligence Service against a man suspected of collaboration with Israel.

The PA assumes that the arrests are another attempt by Tel Aviv to dampen PA clout in light of the political row between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Palestinian Authority however said that they are in contact with Israel in a bid to secure the release of those arrested.

The Friday morning detentions are made at a critical juncture in relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Acting PA Chief Mahmoud Abbas said Friday in an interview with the BBC Arabic service that there would be no peace talks with Israel as long as settlement construction continued. He also implied that his people might adopt a new type of struggle against the occupation.

"Those who have to resist are the people, and there are different types of resistance, like in Bilin and Naalin, where people are injured every day," he said.

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