Daily Alert Archives

Abbas Appoints Terrorist Fugitive to Head His "Presidential Guard"

(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday appointed Col. Mahmoud Damra, also known as Abu Awad, who had been accused by Israel of involvement in terrorist attacks, as overall commander of his Force 17 "presidential guard" in the West Bank. The decision comes only days after Israel agreed to provide weapons and ammunition to Force 17. Damra was one of several fugitives who sought shelter in Arafat's Mukata compound in Ramallah in 2002 after Israel accused him of masterminding terrorist attacks. According to Israeli defense officials, Damra personally issued orders to carry out attacks and was in charge of supplying weapons and money. A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office in 2001 said Damra was responsible for arming and instructing three members of Force 17 who were involved in the killing of Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane and his wife Talia in December 2000. Israeli security officials also attribute to Damra's men a shooting attack near Neveh Tzuf in November 2000 in which two soldiers and a civilian were killed, a shooting attack at the Tapuah junction in November 2001 in which one civilian was killed, and a shooting attack on Route 443 near Givat Ze'ev in December 2001 in which a civilian was killed.
2006-05-31 00:00:00
Full Article