Palestinians Dismiss Israeli al-Qaida Plot Claim

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian security officials are dismissing Israel's claim that it broke up an al-Qaida plot to bomb the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Adnan Damiri, a spokesman for the Palestinian security services in the West Bank, says there is "no indication" that al-Qaida has a presence in the territory. He accused Israel of arresting some "boys" and exaggerating the nature of the threat to bolster its position in peace talks. Israel says it must retain a presence in parts of the West Bank after any peace deal because of security concerns.

Israel said Wednesday it had arrested three Palestinian men — two from Israeli-controlled east Jerusalem and one from the West Bank — in the plot. It said they received through instructions through a handler in the Gaza Strip.

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