Senior Hamas fugitive caught in Nablus

[JohnLocke]

Dec. 22, 2003
Senior Hamas fugitive caught in Nablus
By MARGOT DUDKEVITCH

Senior Hamas fugitive Adnan Asfour, head of and spokesman for the Hamas political bureau in the West Bank, was arrested by security forces early Sunday morning in Nablus.
Asfour, 38, wanted for his suspected involvement in terrorist activities, was reportedly in the midst of rebuilding Hamas infrastructure in Nablus and was in contact with Hamas cells in the West Bank, security officials said.
On the day of the capture, the security establishment recorded 52 warnings of planned terrorist attacks, the majority stemming from the Samaria region.
Meanwhile, the IDF Spokesman said the army is investigating claims that Muhammad al-Araj, six, was shot and killed by IDF gunfire in the Balata refugee camp on Sunday.
Palestinians said the boy had stepped outside of his home and was eating a sandwich when he was shot. IDF officers said a bomb had been thrown at soldiers from behind a wall in the area and that they had then fired warning shots in the direction of the wall.
"The army is investigating Palestinian reports that a young boy was shot," an officer said.
Asfour is the most senior Hamas member to be arrested by security forces since the IDF launched Operation Calm Waters in Nablus last week in an effort to destroy the terrorist infrastructure in the city.
In an interview in Al-Quds daily last month, Asfour said Hamas would agree to hand over its weapons only after the establishment of a sovereign state of Palestine.
He also said the movement would not accept a cease-fire if the Palestinian Authority intends to base it on the revival of the road map, adding that Hamas would not agree to abide by a cease-fire that turns out to be a replica of the previous one.
According to Palestinian reports, the IDF surrounded the five-story building where Asfour was hiding, called on residents to leave, and arrested him as he came outside. Soldiers also confiscated his computer and documents, Palestinians said.

Continued

[Blitz]

1. Very good news

Especially the fact that they got his computer and documents. This could lead to more arrests, which will save the lives of innocents.

[JohnLocke]

2. Yes, I hope so