A Chief of Hamas’ Armed Wing Is Reported Held

The Palestinian intelligence service has arrested the local leader of the military wing of Hamas in Hebron, Palestinian security officials said Wednesday.

They identified him as Mohammed Jamal Natshe and said he was detained two weeks ago.

News of his arrest coincided with a Palestinian roundup in Hebron of suspected Islamic militants after a hand grenade attack in Beersheba in southern Israel that wounded more than 60 people Monday.

Israel has made concrete moves against Muslim militants a bedrock condition for handing more West Bank territory to the Palestinians. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have been locked in talks on a peace deal at a U.S. summit since last Thursday.

Witnesses said at least 20 people had been arrested in Hebron. The security officials said a search was on for about 50 suspected militants in the town, which is divided under a 1997 interim peace deal into Israeli and Palestinian sectors.

A senior Palestinian official, who asked not to be identified, said the operation was focusing on suspects whose activities could harm the stability of Palestinian society or “jeopardize security and the peace process” with Israel.

Hamas’ military wing, Izzidin al-Qassam, claimed responsibility for the Beersheba attack. The incident cast a shadow over the summit at Wye Plantation in Maryland.

Israel has accused the Palestinian Authority, in charge of self-rule areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, of not doing enough to curb anti-Israeli attacks.

Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat has said Palestinian security forces are making a “100% effort” but could not promise total success.