Fateh-affiliated suicide bombers planned to assassinate Haniyah

De facto government: Fateh-affiliated suicide bombers planned to assassinate Haniyah

Date: 19 / 01 / 2008 Time: 14:32

Gaza – Ma'an –

"Fateh-affiliated suicide bombers" were planning to assassinate deposed Prime Minister Isma'il Haniyah, the former Palestinian interior minister in the deposed Hamas-led government, Sa'id Siyam, said on Saturday.

At a press conference in the Gaza Strip, Siyam said, "The men who planned the assassination attempt fled their homes when they heard that the bombing operation at Al-Yarmouk playground when Haniyah was honouring the Gazan Hajj pilgrims was thwarted."

On 12 January 2008 the spokesperson of the de facto interior ministry, Eyhab Al-Ghussain, announced that a suspect carrying explosives had been arrested at a homecoming rally for Hajj pilgrims, where Haniyah was due to give a speech.

Siyam accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' secretary general, Al-Tayyib Abdul-Rahim, of having contacted the man who intended to blow himself up near Haniyah's convoy, promising him and his family refuge in Ramallah.

He said that the alleged bomber had recorded a message, explaining his actions. It was meant to have been broadcast on Palestine TV after he completed his mission.

The group that planned the attack was in contact with exiled Fatah leader Ahmad Dughmush in Egypt, according to Siyam. He called on the Egyptian authorities to arrest Dughmush.

Siyam also called for the arrest of West Bank-based Palestinian police officer, Thafir Abu Mathkur, who he also alleges was part of the plot.

Thafir denied Siyam's accusations, saying that Hamas-affiliated "militias of death" had attempted to assassinate him by booby-trapping his car.

These latest revelations have overshadowed an atmosphere of possible reconciliation between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions. The start of a dialogue to end the political in-fighting was looking more likely after senior Fatah leaders contacted Hamas hardliner Mahmoud Al-Zahar to offer condolences on the death of his son.

Al-Zahar's son, Husam, was killed by Israeli tank fire in an attack on the Zaitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City on January 16.

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