Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., January 22, 2008 Shvat 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:52 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh speaking before a crowd in Gaza last month. (Reuters) Last update - 15:53 19/01/2008 Hamas says it foiled Fatah plot to assassinate Ismail Haniyeh By Reuters Tags: Hamas, Fatah, Ismail Haniyeh  A senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip on Saturday accused rival Fatah of plotting to assassinate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as he prayed and said the would-be suicide bomber had been arrested and had confessed. Tension between Islamist Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah faction has increased since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in a brief but bloody civil war in June. Fatah still holds sway in the West Bank. "There was a plan by a suicide bomber wearing an explosives belt to assassinate Haniyeh as he prayed in the mosque. He was arrested and confessed," Saeed Seyam, who oversees Hamas government security forces in Gaza and is a former interior minister in the Hamas government, told reporters. Advertisement Haniyeh was prime minister of the Hamas-led government which Abbas sacked after the Gaza takeover. A Fatah spokesman dismissed Sayam's allegations. "We deny any involvement or considering any bomb plot in mosques against any Palestinian figure, whether it be Haniyeh or anybody else," Fahmi al-Zareer said. "Fatah will never use this method of killing and assassination," he added. He accused Hamas of previously killing opponents in mosques in Gaza. Seyam said the security officials who made the arrest had seized a video tape which showed the would-be attacker together with those training him. He named a number of suspects but did not single out the identity of the would-be bomber. Seyam said another bombing had been planned to blow up Hamas television station headquarters in Gaza. Seyam said Tayeb Abdel-Rahim, a senior Abbas aide, had been "involved and aware" of the plot against Haniyeh and had assured the would-be bomber his family would be looked after and moved to safety in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Hamas has seen Abdel-Rahim as an arch-enemy since he oversaw a major crackdown on the group in 1996 when acting as a senior adviser to late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, after Hamas carried out a wave of suicide bombings inside Israel. Abdel-Rahim was unavailable for comment on Saturday. Zareer said Seyam's allegation "served to revive tensions" between the two groups. Seyam said Ahmed Dughmush, a former senior Fatah security officer in Gaza, had been one of the masterminds of the assassination plot and that several others involved were still at large in the West Bank and in Egypt. "According to the information we have, some of those at large are still determined to carry out a bombing in the mosque where Haniyeh attends prayers," he said. Hamas police said they would reward anybody who gave information leading to their capture. Last week a Hamas security official said the group had arrested a Palestinian with nine pounds of TNT ready to be detonated by mobile phone at a Gaza rally where Haniyeh welcomed home hundreds of Haj pilgrims. Related articles: PA forces loyal to Abbas detain two Hamas leaders in Ramallah Poll: Fatah losing support among West Bank, Gaza Palestinians Palestinians shave heads in solidarity with Fatah man in Gaza Bookmark to del.icio.us   Message from space A newly-launched Israeli spy satellite sends Iran a very clear message. Gravediggers' plight Even getting buried in the Gaza Strip has gotten more complicated these days.   1.   failed plot 15:58  |  Ahmad 19/01/08   2.   An Islamic Marriage Of Convenience On The Rocks! 16:13  |  Lavi 19/01/08   3.   Hamas leaders 16:28  |  AbuShanab 19/01/08   4.   Means Hamas is trying to assasinate Abbas? 16:39  |  I 19/01/08   5.   who needs enemies with friends like these ? 16:59  |  v hardman 19/01/08   6.   You`re Eating Well Haniyeh! How About Your People? 17:23  |  Lavi 19/01/08   7.   Palestinian against Palestinian 17:29  |  Doris Cadigan 19/01/08   8.   i dont know if this is true or not but 17:45  |  muslim 19/01/08   9.   The morals of La Cosa Nostra... 19:00  |  Aphemia 19/01/08   10.   but not the organizational ability (to #8 Muslim) 19:04  |  Aphemia 19/01/08   11.   #7 20:19  |  Moshe 19/01/08   12.   Surely not 21:15  |  Gina 19/01/08   13.   10. obviously i am for reconciliation of all Palestinian factions 21:42  |  muslim 19/01/08   14.   Peace With Savages? Nu! 21:44  |  Norman F Birnberg 19/01/08   15.   N.F. Bimberg, Savages = IDF, settlers and fanatical Zionists 22:46  |  anti-racist 19/01/08   16.   Impossible 00:23  |  H 20/01/08   17.   13 muslim,it`s a shame that the abbas faction of the PLO has 00:25  |  lakshmi 20/01/08   18.   corrupt and hopeless Fatah 01:23  |  Nabulsi 20/01/08   19.   THAT`S more serious than trading insults on who sodomised whom 01:30  |  PETER SM 20/01/08   20.   BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME 03:19  |  * BEN JABO 20/01/08   21.   Great Stuff! Let Haniyeh Pay! With his own Medecine! 03:22  |  Ruth 20/01/08   22.   #16 Hey paesan Lakshmi! 03:56  |  Aphemia 20/01/08   23.   ABBAS 19:30  |  paul 22/01/08

Today Online Gaza power restored after Israel delivers fuel, gas to the Strip Responses: 111 U.S. immigrant beaten up in 'pogrom' by ultra-Orthodox gang Responses: 112 Palestinian officials: 40% of Gazans lack running water Responses: 54 Israel fears int'l push to hand over Gaza borders to PA control Responses: 60 UN: Despite Israel's promises, West Bank barriers increase Responses: 55 Rosner's Domain The Bible not written to be amended. The Constitution was (WTR) Domain's Guest: "all Jews are responsible for one another" Rosner's Mailbox: Huckabee the candidate who would not sell Israel out Why Republican candidate Mike Huckabee worries Jewish voters Meadow Soprano is more proud of Israel than the US (WTR) More Headlines 19:43 Bolton: Near zero chance Bush will attack Iran 19:10 American pressure thwarts UN censure of Gaza Strip blockade 19:05 Gaza Strip power restored; eight Qassams strike western Negev 17:47 Israeli film Beaufort nominated for Oscar for Best Foreign Film 13:40 Virtual trees: JNF takes planting online for Tu B'Shvat in shmita 18:55 Israeli Arabs protest Gaza crisis; rightists stage counter-protest 19:04 Justice Min. asked to pardon ex-Gaza settlers who defied IDF decree 11:48 China: Nuclear standoff with Iran is at a 'critical' stage 17:57 Abbas: Talks with Israel must continue, despite Gaza crisis Previous Editions Select Day 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan

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