PA: Qatar exposed Karin-A

Palestinian Authority steps up campaign against Al Jazeera as network continues to release secret documents. Fatah official claims group has papers proving emir of Qatar tipped US about weapons-laden ship Karin-A

Elior Levy|Last update: 01.26.11 , 20:13

While Al Jazeera continues to release more documents, the Palestinian Authority is stepping up its campaign against the TV network and Qatar. Fatah senior official Bassam Zakarneh claims his organization holds documents proving that Qatar's Emir Hamed Ben Jassem was the one who tipped the United States about arms ship Karin-A, which in turn handed over the information to Israel.

Behind the Scenes

Report: Bishara aide leaked memos

Roee Nahmias

Jordanian newspaper says six advisors in PA's negotiations department leaked secret documents to al-Jazeera, including relative of former Knesset member. According to report, documents sold to Qatari network about six months ago

Report: Bishara aide leaked memos

In 2002, a shayetef force seized the Gaza-bound vessel, which was found to contain large amounts of weapons. Israel had thus found the "smoking gun" proving that then Palestinian Authrotiry Chairman Yasser Arafat was involved in terror. After seizing the vessel, Israel arrested Fuad Shubaki, the PA's finance chief who arranged funding for Karin-A. A court sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

Assassination collaboration?

On Tuesday, Al Jazeera reported that Palestinian and Israeli security forces conspired together to assassinate Hassan al-Madhoun, a senior official in Fatah's military wing, al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in November 2005. Former Palestinian Interior Minister General Nasser Youssef commented on the report for the first time Wednesday, and denied the allegations suggesting he was involved in the hit or any other assassination throughout his tenure.

Youssef claimed that he informed Mahmoud Abbas that Israel was planning to assassinate Madhoun. Abbas in turn informed Fatah official Ahmed Hilas of the news in order for him to alert Madhoun. "Israel asked us to arrest people and not assassinate them. Israel did not inform anyone about the time one person or another would be killed and never asked for information regarding people's movement. "

The publication of the Al Jazeera documents has exposed the extent of the intimate collaboration between Israel and Palestinian security forces. One paper revealed than then Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz met with Youssef in 2005 and asked him to assassinate Madhoun, who was killed later that year by an IAF missile. The protocols of the meetings cannot prove that the PA was involved in the hit.