Israelis rumoured to have abducted lynch mob suspects

3:00 PM

UNITED NATIONS - The Palestinian U.N. observer said that if "rumours" proved true that a special Israeli army unit had abducted a number of Palestinians, it would be a "very dangerous development."

Nasser al-Kidwa was referring to reports that Israeli troops belonging to an undercover unit had seized several Palestinians suspected of being part of a mob that murdered two Israeli soldiers last week in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

In a speech at an emergency special session of the General assembly, Kidwa said those who killed the two soldiers "had strong reasons to believe that (they) belonged to a special military unit called 'al-mustaribeen (Arabic for 'Arabist') unit'" that on previous occasions had "infiltrated Palestinian areas and committed various savage acts against Palestinians, including the summary execution of some individuals."

Israel said the two slain soldiers were reservists who drove into the West Bank town of Ramallah by mistake, were taken into custody by Palestinian police and then killed and mutilated by a mob.

Speaking again at the end of the Assembly meeting, Kidwa said: "There are some rumours today that say that Israel has kidnapped and abducted a number of Palestinian citizens from the town of Ramallah.

"If this is true, then it proves (the existence of) the unit of al-mustaribeen and the criminality of this unit. And this will represent a very dangerous development in the theatre and a threat to what we have arrived to in Sharm el-Sheikhh," he added.

He was referring to a meeting at Sharm el-Sheikhh, Egypt, at which Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak agreed on Tuesday to try to halt three weeks of violence between Palestinians and Israeli troops that has claimed more than 100 lives, mostly Palestinians.

- REUTERS

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