Rights Group Protests Secretary Rice's Meeting with Terrorist Leader

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

Email: info@israellawcenter.org
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