Foiled plot to assassinate Israeli PM is revealed
THE head of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency told cabinet ministers yesterday that Palestinian militants plotted to assassinate the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, during a visit to the West Bank in August.
Yuval Diskin also claimed the Palestinian Authority (PA) had released militants who were arrested in connection with the alleged plot.
The disclosure came as the PA seeks concessions from Israel in the run-up to a US-sponsored peace conference in November or December.
According to participants in the meeting, Mr Diskin said the plan was to attack Mr Olmert’s convoy as it entered Jericho en route to a summit with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president.
The Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad, said yesterday that the PA had arrested three men in connection with possible threats to Mr Olmert but then released them for lack of evidence.
However, Tawfiq Tirawi, the head of PA’s general intelligence forces, said the suspects were still in custody.
Gaza’s main hospital, Shifa, said yesterday it had run out of anaesthetic for surgeries and cancelled all non-critical procedures.
Israeli suppliers will not send fresh stock without the empty cylinders in exchange, but the Israeli army is hesitant to allow canisters near border crossings for fear they might be rigged as bombs.
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