The London-based daily Al-Quds al-Arabi has claimed that newly elected Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) funneled at least $100,000 to Zakariya Zubeidi and other wanted Fatah terrorists during the just-completed PA election campaign, reports Ma’ariv. Zubeidi, the fugitive leader of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Jenin, and other Fatah leaders reportedly gave Abbas a letter expressing their interest in joining the PA security services.
Meanwhile, the London-based daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat reported that the Bush Administration is concerned about Abu Mazen’s close relationship with armed elements and is refusing to invite him to Washington until it receives clarifications.