Israel said Sunday it had arrested a Palestinian activist recruited by the Lebanese resistance group Hizbollah to carry out acts of terrorism, as the Palestinian Authority began a crackdown on Palestinian groups defying a fragile ceasefire.
Citing Israeli officials, AFP said that Suleiman Ahmed Suleiman Rizek, a father of 13, was recruited by the Shiite resistance group with the aim of gathering intelligence about settlements in his native area of Hizmah, north of occupied Jerusalem.
Rizek, who was recruited in February this year while on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, allegedly told Israeli investigators that Hizbollah gave him money to fund his activities, and had also inquired about recruiting his friends, or one of his sons.
Rizek also said he had told Hizbollah he was ready to undergo military training in Lebanon.
He was arrested by Israel's domestic security agency Shin Beth before he managed to carry out any of his plans.
The arrest of Rizek came as Palestinian President Yasser Arafat began to crack down on various Palestinian resistance groups that are defying the ceasefire announced three weeks ago.
The PA earlier arrested four Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders.
Israeli Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz was quoted on Sunday as saying that the arrests of Hamas and Islamic Jihad members by the PA were only the initial step in stopping terrorism, and that the scope of the arrests currently being made was limited.
"I would not compliment them [the PA] or give them high marks until we see final results, because in the past they made arrests and were then very quick to release those prisoners," Mofaz said in an interview with Israeli Radio - Albawaba.com
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