SENIOR FATAH MILITANT IN LEBANON DIRECTED AND FINANCED SERIOUS TERROR
ATTACKS IN TERRITORIES AND ISRAEL
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Sunday, May 26, 2002

ISA interrogations of senior Fatah militants from Samaria have revealed
that Monir Makdeikh, a senior Fatah militant in Lebanon, directed and
financed serious attacks against Israeli citizens during the course of
the current wave of Palestinian violence.

Nasser Awis, one of the senior Fatah figures in Samaria, and Jemal
Ahwil, one of the senior Fatah figures in Jenin, who were arrested
during operation Defensive Shield, told during questioning of their
connections with Monir Makdeikh who directed and funded Fatah
organizations in the territories which perpetrated many attacks against
Israeli citizens. Monir worked in conjunction with two main Samaria
organizations, one in Nablus and one in Jenin.

Nasser Awis, who operated out of Nablus, revealed during questioning
that the connection between himself and Monir begin halfway through 2001
when Monir approached him and told him that he was interested in giving
him financial aid in order to commit shooting and bombing attacks. The
funds was transferred by Monir in Lebanon to a bank account in Nablus
that was opened especially for this purpose. The money was used for
daily expenses, and for the purchase of weapons and raw materials for
preparing bombs. Awis stated that he received 40-50 thousand dollars
through the bank account for the purpose of financing his activities.

Nasser added that the communications between the two was by regular
telephone calls, and Nasser would report by telephone on every attack
that he was responsible for. Thus he reported to Monir on shooting
attacks committed in the Nablus region, and bombings and suicide attacks
inside Israel such as the attack on the banquet hall in Hadera in
January 2002 which resulted in the deaths of six Israeli civilians and
the shooting attack in Jerusalem on 22.1.2002 in which two Israeli
civilians were killed. After the attacks inside Israel Monir encouraged
Awis to continue the attacks, and most of the funds used to finance the
activities came from Monir from this point on. A number of months
before Awis's arrest, Monir inquired as to the possibility of sending
one of his men to perpetrate a suicide attack in Israel.

Jemal Ahwil also said during his interrogation that Monir Makdeikh
transferred money to him to fund his military activities. Monir would
transfer funds to Nasser Awis's bank account which would then be
forwarded to Jemal. Jemal stated that he received 5000 dollars a month
from Monir.

Jemal also stated that he reported to Monir on the attacks committed by
the al Aksa Martyrs Brigade, including the following:
The attack perpetrated on 27.12.2001 in Afula in which 2 Israeli
civilians were killed and dozens wounded, the shooting attack committed
on 28.6.2001 on the Jenin bypass road in which an Israeli woman was
killed and the attack which took place on 4.10.2001 in the Afula central
bus station where three Israeli civilians were killed.

From the details given by the senior Fatah militants from Samaria during
their interrogations, a clear and comprehensive picture has emerged
regarding Monir Makdeikh's involvement, from his base in Lebanon, in
terror activities directed by the Fatah from inside the West Bank.
Monir transferred large amounts of money for the purpose of funding
attacks perpetrated in the territories, and within Israel, that resulted
in the deaths of many Israeli citizens. Furthermore, Monir was kept
appraised of the attacks and personally encouraged the terrorists to
continue these activities. The arrest of Monir's senior liaison people
in the territories has aided in the prevention of the growing
involvement of Monir in the financing and directing of terror activity
in Israel.