Two Palestinian Preventive Security reports from one file found in their offices in Bethlehem. The reports deal with conflicts with Hamas in Bethlehem about contributions received from support institutions abroad.1
1. From documents found during Operation Defensive Shield (April 2002), although both were found in a Palestinian Preventive Security file separate from the documents in the previous Appendices, all of which were together in the same file.
Document No. 1
Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian Preventive Security Headquarters
Bethlehem
Date: February 22, 2001
To brother Colonel Jibril al-Bakri, head of operations and districts [in PPS headquarters], may Allah shelter him
Salutations,
In re: Recently a dispute arose between Dr. ‘Issa Thawabtah2 [senior Hamas activist in Bethlehem], head of the [Hamas-affiliated] charitable society in Beit Fajar, and Ghassan Harmass, head of the [Bethlehem] Orphan Care Society, because of the support institutions’ connection with institutions abroad. Ghassan Harmass is of the opinion that the issue [i.e., of the distribution of contributions from institutions abroad] is exclusively the business of the Hamas directorate in Bethlehem, and that no one is entitled to intervene.
As a result, Dr. Issa Thawabtah opened an office of the Beit Fajar Charitable Society on the third floor of Al-Kamal Building, Al-Madbasa, Bethlehem, Telefax 2767723. He also appointed Salah ‘Issa Mousa Qassem to run the office, a senior official [belonging to] the Hamas leadership in Bethlehem, who in the past headed Hamas’ Al Islah Charitable Society. Sheikh Anwar Zaboun replaced him and is currently head of Al-Islah [February 2001].
It can be deduced that an office of the Beit Fajar Charitable Society in Bethlehem was opened as a result of intense pressure exerted by Dr. ‘Issa Thawabtah and because Dr. ‘Issa Thawabtah plays a central role in bringing [i.e., transferring] support funds to Hamas institutions in Bethlehem.
The subject is being pursued. We will update you about new developments.
Political Security
Report written by Lieutenant Sami al-M’uti
For your perusal
Head of the Bethlehem [PPS] directorate
Lieut.-Col. Majdi al-‘Atari
2. Dr. ‘Issa Muhammad Khalil Thawabtah, senior Hamas activist in Bethlehem and head of the Hamas-affiliated Beit Fajar “charitable society.” He was arrested by the PA and in 2002 by Israeli security forces; later released.
Document No. 1
Document No. 2
Palestinian National Authority
Preventive Security Headquarters
Bethlehem Department
[Stamp]
Outgoing mail
Reference: 942
Date: 19.3.2001
To brother Colonel Jibril al-Bakri, head of operations and districts [in PPS headquarters], may Allah shelter him
Greetings,
In re: Continuation of the [internal] Hamas dispute
As a result of the dispute between Ghassan Harmass and Dr. ‘Issa Thawabtahover the question of connections with the supporting institutions abroad, Hamas in Bethlehem contacted those institutions and recommended that the matter be taken care of officially by Ghassan Harmass, head of the [Bethlehem] Orphan Care Society. After that Dr. ‘Issa Thawabtah contacted the same [institutions] abroad. However, they informed him that the movement [Hamas] in Bethlehem had decided that the authorities in matters relating to support were the [ Bethlehem] Orphan Care Society and its head, Ghassan Harmass, and Al-Islah Charitable Society and its director, Anwar al-Zaboun.3Therefore, the matter [the receipt and distribution of donations] will be dealt with [only] through those two societies.
As a result, Dr. ‘Issa Thawabtah appealed to the [Bethlehem] Orphan Care Society [and requested] to speak to Ghassan Harmass about the support the Society authorized for the Beit Fajar Charitable Society, of which Dr. ‘Issa Thawabtah considers himself director. However, Ghassan Harmass refused to cooperate with him and said: “I distribute the money as I see fit.”
The matter which aggravated the dispute between them was the [way in which] meat for the Feast of the Sacrifice was distributed. Ghassan Harmass allotted Beit Fajar [i.e., the Hamas-affiliated Beit Fajar Charitable Society] 12 offerings, however, the Beit Fajar Charitable Society viewed that as less than what it deserved. It should be noted that during the holiday the[ Bethlehem] Orphan Care Society distributed 360 offerings.
In response, Dr. ‘Issa [ Thawabtah] is going to speak to the members of the Beit Fajar Charitable Society and request that they no longer cooperate in any way with the [Bethlehem] Orphan Care Society and to act instead through the charitable society, with the exception of donations received from the stone masons (?).
It should be noted that the [Bethlehem Orphan Care] Society is currently constructing a 10-story building, considered a very important achievement, in addition to the [ Bethlehem] Orphan Care Society’s library, which is supervised by Walid al-Bastanji, a close associate of Ghassan Harmass at the Society.
The issue is being monitored. We will update you about new developments.
Political Security
Report written by Lieutenant Sami al-M’uti
For your information and perusal
[Signature]
Head of the Bethlehem [PPS] directorate Lieut.-Col. Majdi al-‘Atari
[Stamp]
Palestinian National Authority
Preventive Security Headquarters
Head of the Bethlehem District Directorate
3. Al-Islah Charitable Society in Bethlehem was founded in 1998 and affiliated with Hamas. It is headed by Anwar Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Zaboun, a senior Hamas official from Beit Sahour.
Document No. 2
