October 4, 2006

RIGHTS GROUP PROTESTS SECRETARY RICE'S MEETING TODAY WITH TERRORIST LEADER
WHO INJURED US CITIZENS

Shurat HaDin alleges that Secretary of State is scheduled to meet Fatah
Tanzim chief al-Sheikh who financed Jerusalem attacks which seriously
injured American nationals

Shurat HaDin - Israel Law Center is protesting today's meeting between the
American Secretary of State and a Palestinian terrorist leader, Hussein
al-Sheikh, who was responsible for organizing and financing several
Jerusalem suicide bombings. The terror attacks killed several Israelis and
injured hundreds of others including numerous American citizens. Secretary
Rice is due to meet the Fatah Tanzim leader at the American Consulate in
East Jerusalem today as part of her week-long visit of Middle Eastern
states.

Shurat HaDin has written to the Israeli police demanding that they arrest
al-Sheihk if he enters Jerusalem to attend the meeting. The letter notes
that information detailing al-Sheihk's involvement in the terror attack
came from the confessions of other Fatah Tanzim terrorists who were
convicted of carrying out the bombings and shootings. In once instance, the
letter states that the involvement of al-Sheihk in a deadly Jerusalem
suicide bombing in March 2002 which killed three Israelis and injured more
than 85 others was included in a military court indictment for which several
terrorists have been convicted.

According to the indictment, on March 20, 2002 two members of Fatah Tanzim
meet with al-Sheikh at this office in Ramallah and received hand-grenades
and cash to carry out an attack. The pair rented a car and bought clothes
for the suicide bomber to wear. The next day, March 21st, the pair drove the
bomber to a checkpoint where he switched cars and proceeded to down town
Jerusalem. At 4:20 pm the suicide bomber blew himself on King George Street
killing 3 Israelis. Shortly thereafter, the pair returned again to
al-Sheikh who assisted them in preparing a press-release in which Fatah
Tanzim claimed responsibility for the attack.

Two of those seriously injured in the al-Sheihk financed attack where
American citizens, Dr. Alan Bauer and his young son Jonathan. They were
walking nearby the terrorist on King George Street when the bomb exploded.

The military court indictment states that: "On that day (on which the
terror attack occurred) the defendant (Karim Rateb Yunes Awis), together
with Nasser Shawish and Mohammad Khsheika (the suicide bomber), met with
Hussein al-Sheikh, the secretary-general of Fatah in the area, in his
office. al-Sheikh supplied the defendant with money and a couple of
hand-grenades for the purpose of carrying out the attack.

"Later on, the defendant, together with Naser Shawish and Hussein a-Sheikh,
wrote out an announcement in which Fatah Tanzim claimed responsibility for
the attack. Afterwards, Nasser Shawish went to the offices of the news
agency ANN, and there he was recorded reading the announcement."

Dr. Alan Bauer, who is represented by attorney Darshan-Leitner, had been
complaining to the United States State Department concerning the inactivity
of the United States in investigating the bombing which injured him and his
son. In December 2005, Dr. Bauer wrote again to the State Department which
offers rewards for the provision of information regarding suspected
individuals responsible for terrorist attacks in which Americans were
injured, and demanded that the U.S. government take appropriate measures
against those who were involved in the attack. In his letter, Dr. Bauer
included a copy of the military court indictment which emphasizes
al-Sheikh's involvement and financing of the bombing.

In addition to the March 21, 2002 attack, al-Sheikh is suspected of planning
and funding an additional terrorist shooting attack in which Shayna Gould of
Chicago and Shmuel Waldman of New York, both American nationals, were
wounded on January 22, 2002 in Jerusalem.

"Instead of meeting with a-Sheikh in the American consulate", stated
attorney Darshan-Leitner, "Condoleezza Rice should be making arrangements to
indict al-Sheikh for the wounding of innocent American civilians. The State
Department's tireless efforts to find "moderate" Palestinians for a
dialogue, leads its officials to shake the bloody hands of ruthless
terrorists, involved in attacks against Americans and Israelis".

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A COPY OF THE INDICTMENT:

TEL: (US) 212-591-0073
(ISRAEL) 972-3-736-1519
info@israellawcenter.org