Treachery among Palestinian parties leaves Fatah official in hospital after stabbing attack

 

Still unclear on Saturday night whether the stabbing attack on Munir al-Jaghoub, who heads Fatah’s Information Department, was linked to the power struggle between Hamas & Fatah or a power struggle within Fatah leadership.

 

A senior Fatah official in the West Bank was seriously injured in a stabbing attack on Friday.

Palestinian militants from Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, demonstrate against the Hamas government in the West Bank town of Ramallah October 4, 2006. – Photo: REUTERS

Munir al-Jaghoub, who heads Fatah’s Information Department in the Office of Mobilization and Organization, was attacked after walking out of a mosque in his village of Beita, south of Nablus.

The 39-year-old official was rushed to Rafidiyeh Hospital in Nablus, where he underwent surgery and was reported to be in serious condition.

The identity of the assailants was unknown and no group claimed responsibility for the stabbing attack.

On Saturday, Palestinian Authority security forces arrested a number of suspects in connection with the attack.

A PA security source said that Jaghoub was also attacked on Thursday night while he was driving his car near the village. The source said that Jaghoub managed to escape unharmed.

It remained unclear on Saturday night whether the stabbing attack was linked to the power struggle between Hamas and Fatah or the result of internal fighting in Fatah.

A Fatah official claimed that Hamas members were behind the attack. He pointed out that Hamas had strongly criticized Jaghoub during the last war in the Gaza Strip because of statements he made against the Islamist movement.

In recent weeks, however, armed clashes have erupted in the Nablus area between Fatah gunmen and PA policemen. Also, the cars and homes of a number of senior Fatah officials in the West Bank have been torched or shot at, prompting the PA security forces to arrest several suspects who are affiliated with ousted Fatah leader Mohamed Dahlan, who is currently living in in the United Arab Emirates.

 

View original The Jerusalem Post publication at: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Senior-Fatah-official-in-serious-condition-after-stabbing-attack-391731