Shot lawmaker: Attacker wanted to kill me

Fatah lawmaker Shami al-Shami, who was shot early Sunday in his hometown of Jenin, told Ma'an from hospital that he believes the unknown assailants aimed to kill him. Al-Shami was wounded by two bullets in his right thigh and is recuperating in Jenin government hospital. Medics say his wounds are moderate. The deputy told Ma'an he had returned to his home after work about 1.30 a.m. Sunday morning. As he left his car to open the garage he heard gunfire towards him. Al-Shami said a man shot between eight and ten bullets at him, two of which hit him while he was hiding behind his car. He said he was unable to identify the shooter as he fled the scene, but noted that the gunman had been waiting near his house for his arrival. The lawmaker said the incident was just the latest attempt to destablize Jenin and called on Palestinian security services to apprehend anyone who undermines security. Jenin Governor Talal Dweikat told Ma'an earlier that security services were exerting major efforts to try and discover the assailants as soon as possible. Palestinian security forces have led a crackdown in the Jenin district after assailants opened fire on the home of Jenin Governor Qaddura Musa in early May. The governor died of a heart attack the same night.