'Wanted' Palestinian fighter hands self in
Published yesterday (updated) 04/01/2010 20:31
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=251803

Jenin – Ma'an – An operative affiliated with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades,
Fatah's paramilitary wing, handed himself over to Israeli authorities on
Sunday evening, Ma'an has learned.

Imad Tayih, 22, from the Al-Far'a Refugee Camp near Tubas, had been "wanted"
by Israeli authorities for over a year and a half. During his time as a
fugitive, Tayih survived targeted assassination attempts and was injured as
a result on several occasions.

On Sunday evening, he gave himself up at the Salim military base in Nablus,
according to his cousin Faris, who observed that Tayih had been receiving a
high volume of telephone calls from Israeli intelligence threatening to kill
him if he did not give himself up.

Faris explained that whenever his cousin would receive such a call, it was
swiftly followed by attempts to ambush or abduct Tayih, adding that he had
survived two assassination attempts and was injured nine times, recently
including a critical gunshot wound to the spine. Unable to receive medical
assistance and no longer able to bear the pain, Tayih handed himself in.

An Israeli military spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking
comment.

Two weeks ago in Nablus, Israeli forces assassinated three Palestinians
affiliated with the Al-Aqsa Brigades. The attack provoked an angry response
from President Mahmoud Abbas, who threatened to scale back security
coordination with the Israelis.

Since the beginning of the second Palestinian intifada in September 2000,
Israeli forces have assassinated more than 200 Palestinians with the use of
air strikes, ambushes or undercover forces. As many as 400 bystanders were
also killed in these strikes.