Actualité - PM Haniyeh Accuses Israeli Intelligence of Sending Suspicious Package

Franc-Parler reproduit une dépêche de presse rapportant que le Premier ministre palestinien, Ismail Haniyeh, a été victime d'une tentative d'assassinat terroriste par empoissonnement. Le Premier ministre israélien considère que ce sont les services secrets israéliens qui sont derrières cette tentative d'assassinat.

Gaza, August 7, 2006 (RNA) – Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh accused the Israeli intelligence of sending the suspicious package to the Cabinet building in Ramallah City on Monday, which left seven employees hurt, including one in critical condition.

"We were surprised with a criminal and dangerous act that targets the head of the Palestinian executive authority, through a poisonous package sent to the Council of Ministers in Ramallah City, which left seven security guards – who dealt with the package – hurt, including one who is still in a coma," Haniyeh said, during the weekly cabinet session in Gaza City.

The Prime Minister added that the package was addressed to him personally, and the labels on it show that it arrived from the city of Tel Aviv in Israel. He believed that the aim was to deliver it to Gaza City, in a direct attack on ministers in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Haniyeh further noted that this was not the first time the Palestinian government was threatened, pointing out that several threats have arrived recently to the ministers and members of the government.

A number of Palestinian security personnel at the Council of Ministers in Ramallah were hospitalized after inhaling gases that were emitted from a package addressed to the Palestinian premiere's office. The entire building was immediately evacuated after the incident, which is considered the first of its kind.

(Ramattan News Agency)