Israel Security Forces Prevent Massacre - Tanzim Terrorist Killed

By Israel News Agency Staff

Jerusalem ---- December 14 ..... Israel security sources have just told the Israel News Agency that a senior Tanzim terrorist was killed during an Israel Defense Forces arrest operation today.

The Israel security sources stated: "This afternoon ISA, IDF and special Israel Border Police forces operated in Nablus in order to arrest Muhammad Amin Muhammad Ramaha, head of Tanzim in the Ein Beit Ilma refugee camp. The Israel forces set up a roadblock in order to stop Ramaha, but when Ramaha's vehicle arrived it bypassed the roadblock and collided with another vehicle, injuring a number of civilians."

The Israel security forces statement continued: "As the Israel security forces approached Ramaha's vehicle, he and one of his men opened fire at them. The Israel soldiers returned fire, killing the two, who had been armed with an M-16 and a handgun."

Ramaha was involved in terror attacks and in attempted terror attacks in the Nablus area and in Israel's home front. Ramaha continued to plan suicide bombings during the recent ceasefire. He was planning a suicide bombing in the immediate future which was being guided and funded by terrorists in the Gaza Strip. An 8kg explosive device which was captured yesterday at an IDF security checkpoint close to Nablus had been prepared by Ramaha and members of his infrastructure, and was intended for use in a suicide bombing.

"What we witnessed today was the Israel Security Forces at their best," said one defense ministry source. "Had Ramaha been successful in carrying out the many terror attacks that he had planned dozens of Israel and Palestine citizens would have been murdered. It would have hurt the Palestine people directly - their economy and those Palestinians who as many Israelis are working towards a just and fair peace. Today's arrest is an example of brilliant intelligence work integrated with elite combat operations on site."

Ramaha had planned a series of terror attacks in the past months including a planned terror suicide bombing in Rehovot, Israel. The suicide bomber was arrested near Nablus on July 30th while on his way to carry out the terror attack inside Israel. The bomber told investigators that Ramaha had recruited him for the attack and had helped him to prepare for it.

Mustafa Ramaha, arrested on July 9th, told Israel investigators that Muhammad Ramaha had appointed him to recruit potential terror bombers. Ramaha had also presented him with an explosive belt and had offered that he serve as a bomber himself.

Amer Fahmawi was arrested on August 18th with 15,000 NIS in cash, which he said was given to him by Ramaha in order to purchase weaponry. Hassan Taim, who was arrested on September 11th, told Israel investigators that he had bought 800 small metal parts to be used in explosive belts.

Muhammad Galiz was arrested on October 22nd, a number of days before he was due to carry out a terror suicide bombing within Israel's 1967 borders. Galiz was instructed by Ramaha to carry out the bombing against an IDF force in the Nablus area. The Tanzim terror infrastructure in Ein Beit Ilma has carried out a number of deadly terror attacks in the past few years and is continuing to plan suicide bombings against Israel civilians and daily attacks against IDF forces.

The Tanzim, or "Organization", is a loosely organized Fatah militia, which spearheaded some of the riots and traded fire with Israel troops during September and October 2000. The Tanzim terrorists, although nominally under Marwan Barghouti's control, are often no more than a ragtag group that does not wait for orders to open fire when confronted with Israel troops shooting at rioters. Although Yasir Arafat had funded the Tanzim fighters and provided their weapons, plenty of other Palestinians with arms also act as freelance fighters on the street.

In related news, the Hamas movement announced that it demands to place Tanzim leader in the West Bank Marwan Barghouti, who is jailed in Israel, at the top of the list of Palestine prisoners who will be freed as part of a deal for the release of kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, the London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Hayat reported today. According to the report, Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal told Barghouti's wife that the abducted soldier will not be freed without her husband's release.