Israeli forces seize Palestinian militant leader

By Wafa Amr and Haitham Tamimi

JERICHO, West Bank (Reuters) – Israeli forces seized a
Palestinian militant leader on Tuesday after smashing into a
West Bank jail with tanks and bulldozers in a raid that ignited
protests across Palestinian areas.

Ahmed Saadat, accused by Israel of involvement in the 2001
killing of an Israeli cabinet minister, surrendered at Jericho
jail with his hands up after a day-long siege. Israeli forces
captured five other prominent prisoners whom they sought.

Israel’s seizure of the grey-haired Saadat, following
Palestinian suggestions he might be freed, could strengthen the
security credentials of interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert two
weeks ahead of a general election that he is expected to win.

It stirred a wave of unrest in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip.

A Palestinian official said President Mahmoud Abbas was
cutting short a visit to Europe and returning straight home to
“follow up on the developments after the abduction” of Saadat.

At least nine foreigners were kidnapped by militants
furious U.S. and British monitors left the Jericho jail before
the raid. Two Australians, an American and a Swiss national
were later released but four French nationals and a Korean were
being held.

A guard and a prisoner were killed in clashes with the
Israelis at the jail where Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine (PFLP) leader Saadat had been held since 2002 under
foreign supervision. At least 10 people were wounded.

Islamic militant group Hamas, due to form the next
Palestinian government, warned Israel against harming him. The
PFLP’s military wing said Israel would pay dearly. Palestinian
officials accused Olmert of an election stunt.

The United States said it had been in touch with both sides
to urge restraint.

EXPLOSIVES AND BULLDOZERS

Israeli soldiers first blew up the outer wall of the prison
compound, then brought up bulldozers which began to take the
building apart room by room as guards exchanged fire
sporadically with the besieging troops.

Around 300 prisoners were taken out during the raid.

Israel said it launched the operation because it feared the
six could be released, as Hamas had suggested after it won a
January election. Abbas also said last week that he was
prepared to free them.

Israel says Saadat, 51, ordered the killing of Tourism
Minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001. The PFLP, one of the smaller
groups waging a Palestinian uprising, said it assassinated
Zeevi to avenge the killing of one of its leaders.

Gideon Meir, deputy director general of Israel’s Foreign
Ministry, said Israel had no choice but to act against Saadat
because Hamas leaders and Abbas had spoken about the
possibility of freeing the prisoners.

“All of this also comes about due to the fact that Hamas is
part of the new Palestinian Authority,” Meir told Reuters.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the raid a
“massive provocation” that could spark major unrest. Saadat’s
seizure would weaken Abbas and other moderates, he added.

“I cannot begin to understand why Israel would want all-out
war. Today’s military assault would seem to suggest that
intent,” Erekat said.

Major-General Yair Naveh, chief of the Israeli military’s
central command, said security forces began making plans weeks
ago for the raid after learning monitors planned to leave. He
denied any cooperation with the United States or Britain.

Those responsible for the minister’s killing would be put
on trial, he said.

ATTACKS ON BUILDINGS

U.S. and British officials said monitors left because the
Palestinians had failed to implement requested security
improvements. Abbas’s Palestinian Authority condemned the move
and said it held the United States and Britain responsible for
the consequences.

Israel had agreed to allow the Authority to keep Saadat in
Jericho prison in a deal to end an Israeli siege of Yasser
Arafat’s compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah in May
2002.

In Gaza, PFLP militants and protesters set ablaze the
British Council and stormed buildings used by the EU and a U.S.
group. The British Council building in the West Bank city of
Ramallah also came under attack.

Four French, two Australians, an American teacher, a Swiss
Red Cross worker and a Korean were seized by militants. The
Australians and the American were freed soon after and the Red
Cross worker was also released. French Foreign Minister
Philippe Douste-Blazy demanded the release of the French people
held.

One PFLP gunman was killed in a clash with police trying to
prevent kidnappings.

The PFLP has Marxist roots and opposes peace talks with
Israel. The group, which was at the forefront of plane
hijackings in the 1960s and 1970s, is part of Abbas’s umbrella
Palestine Liberation Organization.

Hamas also opposes peace talks with Israel, which it seeks
to destroy.

(Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza,
Jonathan Saul, Adam Entous and Jeffrey Heller in Jerusalem)