A Syrian-based terrorist group has threatened the lives of West Bank Palestinians who met with members of an American diplomatic mission here this week.
The threat was broadcast on the Syrian radio station Al Kuds by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, a faction headed by Ahmed Jabril that is opposed to Yasir Arafat’s leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Al Kuds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem.
The warning was unambiguous. After naming the Palestinians who attended the meeting, the broadcaster said, “The judgement of the people shall be meted out.”
It added, “Those who went to this meeting should know that our people are lying in wait to ambush them.”
Palestinians in general were urged to resist the Americans. “We must come out against meetings of this type and oppose the American plans for elimination and surrender,” the broadcast said.
The American group, which left Israel on Tuesday, was headed by Dennis Ross, director of policy planning at the State Department. It met with a small group of Palestinians to sound them out on Israel’s offer of elections and self-rule.
The delegation also had discussions with Israeli, Egyptian and Jordanian officials.
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