Israel nabs Ramallah terror cell

Israeli security agency Shin Bet revealed it arrested members of a Ramallah terror cell who allegedly planned to kidnap Israelis. The Shin Bet said this week that cell members plotted to kidnap an Israeli to use as a bargaining chip to secure the release of Ahmed Sadat, the head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Sadat is in an Israeli prison after being convicted in the death of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi in October 2001. Cell members arrested recently were identified as Ashraf Hilil Mahmoud Abu A-ram, 26 of Ramallah, who founded the cell and recruited Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Zeitoun, 26, also from Ramallah. The Shin Bet said eight other members of the PFLP cell were arrested for planning clashes against Israeli soldiers. The two allegedly told investigators they planned to attack Israeli soldiers and kidnap a soldier or other Israeli citizen at a hitchhiking station in Samaria. They organized a safe-house in a village in the Ramallah district where they planned to hide the Israeli while negotiating for Sadat's release, the Shin Bet said. In recent months A-Ram and Zeitoun were indicted at the Judea and Samaria charges included planning to kidnap a soldier and serving in an illegal organization, the Shin Bet said.