While not technically falling under the rubric of the Arab Press, Iran's reporting on developments in the Arab Palestinian Authority deserves attention. The Tehran Times reported that "informed sources" revealed that a "special Zionist commando group has been established in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to assassinate Palestinian leaders...."
The Tehran-based, English-language daily went on to specify that the "death squad" consists of "members of the Gush Emunim organization..." and "is led directly by Israeli intelligence agency (Mossad) chief Meir Dagan, who is strongly opposed to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the West Bank and Gaza Strip." The members of the group "are equipped by and receive their orders directly from the Mossad chief, without the knowledge of Israeli cabinet ministers," the paper reports.
The objective of the Israeli group, according to the Tehran Times, is "to prevent elections from being held in occupied Palestine and to assassinate Palestinian leaders."
The recent failed attack on Mahmoud Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, by rival Arab terrorists, at a Gaza mourning tent set up following PLO leader Yasser Arafat's death, was actually, according to the Iranian newspaper, the work of the Gush Emunim "death squad".
Among the senior PA leaders who are "on the hit list of the Zionist group," according to the "sources" quoted by the Iranian news agency, are "PLO Political Department director Farough al Ghudumi [Farouk Kaddoumi], Hamas spokesman Mohammad al Hendi [Al-Hindi], Palestinian politician Ghasem Abdulsattar, Palestinian Parliament Speaker Ruhi Fatouh, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, PA Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei, and former PA labor minister Mostafa al Barghusi [Barghouti]...."
The Tehran-based, English-language daily went on to specify that the "death squad" consists of "members of the Gush Emunim organization..." and "is led directly by Israeli intelligence agency (Mossad) chief Meir Dagan, who is strongly opposed to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the West Bank and Gaza Strip." The members of the group "are equipped by and receive their orders directly from the Mossad chief, without the knowledge of Israeli cabinet ministers," the paper reports.
The objective of the Israeli group, according to the Tehran Times, is "to prevent elections from being held in occupied Palestine and to assassinate Palestinian leaders."
The recent failed attack on Mahmoud Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, by rival Arab terrorists, at a Gaza mourning tent set up following PLO leader Yasser Arafat's death, was actually, according to the Iranian newspaper, the work of the Gush Emunim "death squad".
Among the senior PA leaders who are "on the hit list of the Zionist group," according to the "sources" quoted by the Iranian news agency, are "PLO Political Department director Farough al Ghudumi [Farouk Kaddoumi], Hamas spokesman Mohammad al Hendi [Al-Hindi], Palestinian politician Ghasem Abdulsattar, Palestinian Parliament Speaker Ruhi Fatouh, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, PA Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei, and former PA labor minister Mostafa al Barghusi [Barghouti]...."