(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday reiterated his pledge to protect Fatah gunmen. In Balata near Nablus he was greeted by scores of Fatah gunmen belonging to the Aksa Martyrs Brigades. Two of them, Ala Sanakreh and Ahmed Abu Salateh, appeared next to Abbas as he addressed thousands of supporters. The two are wanted by Israel for their role in a suicide bombing at Jerusalem's French Hill junction four months ago and other attacks. Abbas later held a closed door meeting with the gunmen and promised to help them after the election. "I will do everything to protect these men," Abbas vowed. On the eve of Abbas's visit, Fatah members in the city murdered a 44-year-old man suspected of "collaboration" with Israel.
2005-01-07 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive