A senior leader of Al Fatah, Ali Halil Ribai, who had been the subject of a 14-year manhunt by Israeli security forces, has been captured, it was announced here today.
Ribai was arrested in Dura, south of Hebron, three weeks ago but news of the arrest was withheld until now. Ribai managed to escape when his underground cell was uncovered by security forces in the early 1970’s and evaded capture since by hiding in caves of the Hebron Hills and the Judaean desert. He was armed when arrested.
Several other Arabs have been arrested in the Hebron Hills and the Jerusalem area, allegedly for helping Ribai to evade capture. He would emerge periodically to recruit, train and supply other Fatah members.
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