The head of the PA Preventative Security service in the West Bank, Gibril Rajoub was hospitalized Sunday in a hospital Ramallah after suffering from a heart attack, the Israeli Yediot Aharonot web site reported Monday morning. However, Palestinian sources denied this report, saying it was circulated by elements that aim to harm Rajoub.
According to Yediot Aharonot, Rajoub’s condition is stable and he is recuperating from the attack. In Ramallah Monday morning, sources assumed that Rajoub’s medical condition deteriorated as a result of the Israeli Army’s earlier conquering of his compound in Bitunia as well as from the fact he had not taken part in recent political and security decisions.
Furthermore, Rajoub has lately been under harsh attack by Palestinian top officials as well as Palestinian opposition forces, especially Hamas.
Under this criticism, Rajoub told The Washington Post late last month his forces would no longer cooperate with Israel nor seek to stop suicide bombers. Rajoub said it is "not my priority" to stop attacks on Israel. "Israel will never have security in the occupied territories," he said.
Born in Dura near Hebron in the West Bank in 1953, Rajoub has been a long-term member of Fatah, Yasser Arafat's political movement. He was sentenced by Israel to life imprisonment in 1970 for throwing a grenade at a convoy of Israeli soldiers. He was reported to have learnt Hebrew in jail and speaks English.
Israel expelled Rajoub to Lebanon in 1988 for activities in the first intifada. In May 2001, three Israeli shells Rajoub's home but he escaped. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
