The Palestinian Authority has denied a General Security Services (Shabak) report that a Fatah terrorist cell plotted to assassinate Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on August 6 as he traveled to Jericho to meet with PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).
The PA security source that issued the denial claimed that Israeli security sources control Jericho and would have had no need for PA security to step in and stop the would-be attackers, calling the report “idle talk” by PA operatives.
According to the Shabak, the assassination attempt was averted by PA security personnel who arrested the members of the attacking terrorist cell. The report said the terrorists were later released.