Palestinian Interior Minister Appoints Militant To Security Force
April 20, 2006
The appointment is seen as a direct challenge to President Mahmud Abbas (file photo) (RFE/RL)
The appointment is seen as a direct challenge to the leadership of Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas.
The minister, Said Siyam, issued a decree appointing Jamal Abu Samhadana as director general of the Interior Ministry. Samhadana is the head of the Popular Resistance Committees. That group has claimed responsibility for some of the homemade rockets launched at Israel in recent weeks.
The group is also suspected by some of involvement in the bombing of a U.S. Embassy convoy in Gaza in October 2003, when three Marine security guards were killed.
(AP)