RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Palestinian Authority security department spokesman Adnan Ad-Dmeiri said Hamas was failing to deal with intelligence collaborators among its members.
Ad-Dmeiri said security weaknesses within Hamas had enabled a series of assassinations of Hamas leaders. Israeli forces killed two leaders of Hamas' armed wing in Hebron on Friday, Nashat Al-Karmi and Maamoun Al-Natsha. Hamas leader Ali As-Suweiti was killed by Israeli soldiers in Hebron in April, and in March Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was assassinated in Dubai.
Hamas has failed to open any investigations into internal security leaks, preferring to accuse the PA of security collaboration with Israel, Ad-Dmeiri said.
Further, he said the accusations were destroying President Mahmoud Abbas' efforts to achieve national unity, and to confront Israel's occupation and settlement activity.
The PA official said some Hamas leaders were benefiting from the rivalry between Hamas and Fatah, and were making accusations to prolong the division and derail conciliation.
Ad-Dmeiri said Hamas was constantly broadcasting accusations of treason through media outlets and the internet. "How could Palestinians believe that Hamas leadership is loyal and serious about achieving unity while it accuses the people it wants to reconcile with of treason?" he asked.
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