The IDF announced last night that yesterday\'s suicide-murderer in Jerusalem was a PA policeman who was arrested just over a month ago by PLO security services for intending to carry out a suicide attack in Israel. He admitted during his interrogation that he planned to perpetrate the attack at the mall in Raanana, and that he was working under the direction of Tanzim and Islamic Jihad personnel. He even turned over the explosive belt he was planning to use for the attack. It was also learned then that he was involved in the attempted car bomb attack near Mei Ami on February 8. The PA released him from prison soon afterwards.
The IDF Spokesman said that these events \"underscore not only the growing involvement of the PA security organs in terror, but also the refusal of the PA to effectively arrest terrorists, even when the PA knows for certain that these individuals intend to carry out mass terror attacks.\"
In a related item, AP reports today that Palestinian Authority documents show that Yasser Arafat - who is obligated by the terms of the Oslo and many other agreements to take all means to arrest terrorists - in fact authorized payment to at least one terrorist allegedly involved in killing several Israelis. Other documents found in the PA\'s Orient House headquarters show that Arafat was in contact with Palestinian political and security officials suspected of organizing terrorism. The most damning piece of evidence is a letter with Arafat\'s signature dated July 9, 2001 approving a $300 payment to Atef Abayat, a wanted leader of the Al Aqsa Brigades.
The IDF Spokesman said that these events \"underscore not only the growing involvement of the PA security organs in terror, but also the refusal of the PA to effectively arrest terrorists, even when the PA knows for certain that these individuals intend to carry out mass terror attacks.\"
In a related item, AP reports today that Palestinian Authority documents show that Yasser Arafat - who is obligated by the terms of the Oslo and many other agreements to take all means to arrest terrorists - in fact authorized payment to at least one terrorist allegedly involved in killing several Israelis. Other documents found in the PA\'s Orient House headquarters show that Arafat was in contact with Palestinian political and security officials suspected of organizing terrorism. The most damning piece of evidence is a letter with Arafat\'s signature dated July 9, 2001 approving a $300 payment to Atef Abayat, a wanted leader of the Al Aqsa Brigades.