In the wake of two terror attacks in two days in Judea and Samaria and on the backdrop of the launching of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Palestinian security forces have reportedly been arresting Hamas terrorists suspected of being involved in the attacks.
According to reports, PA forces arrested two residents of Hebron for their alleged involvement in Tuesday evening’s shooting attack near Hebron, in which four Israelis were killed. They are suspected of purchasing and selling the car that was used in the shooting.
However, Hamas, who accepted responsibility for both this attack as well as a second shooting attack Wednesday evening which injured two Israelis, has accused the PA of arresting 550 of its members and summoning 1,500 other Hamas people, as part of a crackdown on the terrorist organization.
The PA denied Hamas’ claims regarding the mass arrests, calling them “no more than lies”. Adnan Damiri, spokesman for the Palestinian Security and Police Forces, did say that several suspects were in custody and that the investigation was ongoing.
Damiri accused Hamas of sabotaging peace negotiations.
Meanwhile in Washington, direct negotiations between Israel and the PA officially began on Thursday with opening remarks by both Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and , Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Netanyahu said that "mutual and painful concessions from both sides" will be required for peace. Abbas called for a continuation of the freeze on construction of Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria and a complete lifting of what he called the “embargo on Gaza.” He also addressed the investigation into the latest terror attacks, and said that PA forces located the vehicle from which the shots were fired. He added that the PA will do whatever possible to locate and arrest the terrorists and make sure that such attacks do not happen again.
“We are checking who fired, what care they fired from, and who bought the car used to fire from. We want to get to those who carried out the attack,” said Abbas.