Hamas denies knowledge of Liberman plot, but says leaders of 'occuaption' are legitimate targets

Three Palestinians are accused of plotting to kill the Foreign Minister with an RPG.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB, REUTERS
Avigdor Liberman (photo credit: REUTERS)
Avigdor Liberman
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Hamas neither confirmed nor denied the allegations following the indictment of three Palestinians for a plan to buy a rocket-propelled grenade launcher to blow up Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman.
"We have no information about this issue. However, we stress that leaders of the "occupation" (Israel) who are responsible for the killing of children and women and for defiling the sacred sites are legitimate targets for the resistance," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.
Though the indictment was filed on Tuesday, no public announcement has been issued by the often close-mouthed IDF Military Courts.
The three men – Ibrahim el-Zir, Ziad el-Zir and Anans Bech, all from Harmala in the West Bank – allegedly decided to assassinate the foreign minister in mid-August to try to stop Operation Protective Edge.
An additional part of the rationale for the plan to go after Liberman was the proximity of Harmala to Liberman’s home in Tekoa (the village is on the other side of Route 356 from the settlement). There were instances when the defendants observed his entourage of vehicles traveling in the area, the indictment filed in the Judea Military Court said.
The plot included measuring the travel time between Herodian and the Beit Fajar junction.