Israel, which does not take responsibility for yesterday\'s death of wanted terrorist Atef Abeyat in a car explosion in Bethlehem, said that the P.A. reports of his death are \"astonishing.\" This, in light of the fact that the PA has recently claimed more than once that Atef Abeyat was under PA detention. Yasser Arafat was noted specifically as having told Foreign Minister Peres that Abeyat was in detention.
Israeli Minister Tzippy Livni said that not only has the PA \"mis-spoken\" on this matter, but so has UN envoy Terje Larsen. Livni related today that after Larsen told her yesterday morning that Abeyat was in PA prison, she told him that this was not true and advised him to check again. \"He later came back to me,\" Livni said, \"and said that he had checked and that Abeyat was definitely under PA arrest.\"
Israeli security officials explain Abeyat\'s death by saying that he was engaged in preparing a car-bomb for a terrorist attack inside Israel. Two other Fatah Tanzim terrorists were killed at the same time. Atef Abeyat was the Tanzim commander in Bethlehem, responsible for the deaths of five Israelis and the wounding of four more in dozens of attacks. The five victims include Sgt. Danny Darai, Tzachi Sasson, and Lt. David-Chen Cohen. Abeyat was also responsible for mortar fire and shooting at the southern Jerusalem neighborhoods of Gilo and Malha, and personally took an active part in this shooting.
The Prime Minister\'s Office noted that this incident constitutes additional proof of recent Israeli claims that \"the PA has been plying the US and European countries with mendacious reports regarding Palestinian counter-terrorism in recent days.\"
Israeli Minister Tzippy Livni said that not only has the PA \"mis-spoken\" on this matter, but so has UN envoy Terje Larsen. Livni related today that after Larsen told her yesterday morning that Abeyat was in PA prison, she told him that this was not true and advised him to check again. \"He later came back to me,\" Livni said, \"and said that he had checked and that Abeyat was definitely under PA arrest.\"
Israeli security officials explain Abeyat\'s death by saying that he was engaged in preparing a car-bomb for a terrorist attack inside Israel. Two other Fatah Tanzim terrorists were killed at the same time. Atef Abeyat was the Tanzim commander in Bethlehem, responsible for the deaths of five Israelis and the wounding of four more in dozens of attacks. The five victims include Sgt. Danny Darai, Tzachi Sasson, and Lt. David-Chen Cohen. Abeyat was also responsible for mortar fire and shooting at the southern Jerusalem neighborhoods of Gilo and Malha, and personally took an active part in this shooting.
The Prime Minister\'s Office noted that this incident constitutes additional proof of recent Israeli claims that \"the PA has been plying the US and European countries with mendacious reports regarding Palestinian counter-terrorism in recent days.\"