Israel raids Palestine jail, seizes leader: Siege ignites protests
JERICHO, March 14: Israeli forces smashed into a West Bank jail with tanks and bulldozers on Tuesday, seizing a Palestinian militant leader after a siege that ignited protests across the occupied areas.
Ahmed Saadat, accused by Israel of involvement in the killing of an Israeli minister, was among a group of six prisoners who walked out of Jericho jail with their hands up just after nightfall.
Israel says Mr Saadat, a leader of the Popular front for The Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), ordered the assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001. The PFLP, one of the smaller groups waging a Palestinian uprising, said it assassinated Mr Zeevi to avenge the killing of one of its leaders.
After the Israeli siege, seven foreigners were kidnapped in the West Bank and Gaza Strip by militants furious that US and British monitors left Jericho jail before the raid. Two Australians and an American were later released.
Israel had agreed to allow the Palestinian Authority (PA) to keep Ahmed Saadat in Jericho prison under US and British supervision in a deal to end an Israeli siege of Yasser Arafat’s compound in 2002.
American and British officials said the monitors left because the Palestinians had failed to implement requested security improvements. The PA condemned the move.
Israel said it launched the raid because it feared the six prisoners, including Ahmed Saadat, could be released, as Hamas had suggested after it won the January election. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas also said last week that he was prepared to free them.
Israeli forces had used tanks and bulldozers to smash into the jail and seize Mr Saadat and the five other prisoners.
A guard and a prisoner were killed in clashes at the jail. Ten people were wounded.
Hamas warned Israel against harming Mr Saadat. Palestinian officials accused Mr Olmert of an election stunt.
The United States said it had been in touch with both sides to urge restraint.
In Gaza, PFLP militants and protesters set ablaze the British Council and stormed buildings used by the EU and a US group. The British Council building in the West Bank city of Ramallah also came under attack.
Two 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.—Reuters
JERICHO, March 14: Israeli forces smashed into a West Bank jail with tanks and bulldozers on Tuesday, seizing a Palestinian militant leader after a siege that ignited protests across the occupied areas.
