Nablus Focus Of Israeli Moves Against Hamas

MELISSA BLOCK, Host:

Reporter Linda Gradstein spent the day in Nablus and filed this report.

LINDA GRADSTEIN: In one corner is a blackened safe with a jagged hole in the top. He says about $3,000 is missing. Dr. Sadr says the clinic treats the poorest residents of Nablus, charging about 70 cents for a doctor's visit. It's run by the Islamic Charities Association, and he says it has no connection with Hamas.

HAFEZ SADR: And we have no relation whatsoever with Hamas. It has been founded to help very poor people. It was - it shelters the (unintelligible). From where they thought this name concerned with Hamas, I don't know. A fabrication (unintelligible).

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GRADSTEIN: Nearby, the more than 80 shops in the Nablus mall have all received orders to close by August 15th. Today, most of the shops were open with Arabic music blaring from some of them. Thirty-six-year-old Yah Jawadela(ph) sells toys and house wares here. He says he sunk his life savings into his shop, paying about $300,000 to the corporation that owns the building. Israel says that corporation has ties to Hamas. That came as a shock to Jawadela.

YAH JAWADELA: (Through translator) They have no connection whatsoever with Hamas. This is a private sector. These are all privately owned places. They have nothing to do with Hamas whatsoever.

GRADSTEIN: Nablus governor Jamal Muheisen, a longtime member of the Fatah movement of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, says the Israeli raids are undermining Fatah's efforts to impose law and order in Nablus. In the past year, the Palestinian Authority had deployed 900 police in the city with U.S. training and financial support. Crime is down and the economy has improved. But Muheisen says that's now in jeopardy.

JAMAL MUHEISSEN: (Through translator) It embraces the Palestinian Authority because it will appear weak in the eyes of its people. And instead of weakening Hamas, people will be more supportive to Hamas.

GRADSTEIN: Hamas officials agree. Mona Monsour is a Hamas member parliament.

MONA MONSOUR: (Through translator) The charitable society and the commercial places which were closed are licensed by the Palestinian Authority. And this indicates that the Palestinian Authority is hit in its own home. It undermines the sovereignty of the Palestinian Authority.

GRADSTEIN: For NPR News, I'm Linda Gradstein in Nablus. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.