Israel claims to break up Hamas ‘cell’ in West Bank

By Anees Barghouti

RAMALLAH, Palestine

The Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency, claimed Thursday that it had arrested 20 members of a Hamas-linked cell from across the occupied West Bank, according to reports in the Israeli media.

Hebrew-language daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the cell -- members of which were allegedly planning to carry out suicide bombings inside Israel -- had been operating in the West Bank city of Nablus where it had recruited four would-be suicide bombers.

"The bombers," the newspaper claimed, "were preparing to carry out attacks at bus stops in [the cities of] Haifa and Jerusalem."

Most of those arrested had previously served time in Israeli prisons, Yedioth Ahronoth added.

According to the Shin Bet, cell members had set up a bomb-making workshop in Nablus, where they had produced explosive materials.

"Cell members had also bought M16 assault rifles with the aim of carrying out shooting attacks on Israeli citizens," the security agency alleged in a statement.

Hamas, for its part, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007, has yet to comment on the claims.