IDF forces in Jenin (Archive photo)
Photo: Yonatan Ne'eman, IDF's Spokesperson Unit
Suicide bomber Abu-Zayed. Retaliated Sa'adi's killing
Photo: AFP
Jenin: Islamic Jihad leader arrested
Border Guard arrest Islamic Jihad leader Sheikh Abd al-Hilam Az a-Din. Palestinians claim man is religious, political leader not related to military activities
In the wake of the terror suicide attack in Hadera Wednesday, a special Border Police task force arrested Thursday a top Islamic Jihad leader in Jenin wanted by the security forces, along with four other suspected terrorists. One of the men was found to be carrying a pistol.
The five men were detained and transferred for further questioning by the IDF.
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Az a-Din, 40, was apprehended at his home, and Palestinian sources reported fire was exchanged during the arrest.
The sheikh, a leader of the political wing of the Islamic Jihad, has not been involved in military activity and was not on Israel's wanted terrorists list until now.
Az a-Din was mainly a religious and political figure, a Palestinian source said.
Az a-Din is the highest ranking Islamic Jihad member arrested by the IDF following the terror attack in Hadera, and ever since the wave of arrests has been launched in the beginning of the month, in response to Qassam shooting on the southern town of Sderot.
Hamas bids activists to be 'careful'
Sources in Hamas and the Islamic Jihad anticipate the upsurge of arrests and targeted killings announced by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Wednesday will increase, and be directed at both the operational and the political wings of both organizations.
Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Mushir al-Masri urged the group's activists to be "extra careful' in light of the IDF's threats it will launch an attack against Hamas and Islamic Jihad in response to the Hadera blast.
Meanwhile, Palestinian PM Ahmed Qureia said Thursday that Israeli escalation in the territories will bring to a deterioration in the security situation. He however repeated his condemnation of the terror attack.
"The attack does not serve the Palestinians. It serves Israel, who wants to see the present situation continue," he said.
Earlier Thursday, the Islamic Jihad released a tape containing the last words of the Hadera suicide bomber Hassan abu-Zayed.
Broadcast by the Qatari-based al-Jazeera channel, al-Zayed's 'will' stated that the bombing in Hadera was carried out in response to IDF's targeted killing of Islamic Jihad West Bank leader Louie Sa'adi, and to the crimes of Israel.
The contents of the tape contradicted statements made by Israeli sources, who claimed the attack was not related to Sa'adi's assassination.
Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
