The man who was the prime mover behind the terrorist activities in the Bethlehem District

1. Atef Abiat was a senior Fatah operational activist in Bethlehem, and until his death (on 18 October 2001), headed the main terror cell in the district.

2. In he captured documents, his name is mentioned in the list of 24 Fatah activists to whom Arafat distributed (through the Fatah branch secretary in Bethlehem) $300 to each activist. His name is also included in the list of 9 families of Fatah martyr commanders to whom Arafat allocated financial aid of $800 per family.

3. The cell headed by Atef Abiat carried out under his leadership shooting attacks, explosive charge attacks and mortar bomb firing towards the Gilo suburb of Jerusalem and towards IDF troops. 2 IDF soldiers were killed and over 10 Israeli civilians were wounded in these attacks. Abiat was also personally involved in the murder of Palestinian collaborators in the Bethlehem district.

4. Atef Abiat was involved in the following major terrorist attacks:

A. 2 April 2001 - Shooting attack in which one IDF soldier was killed.
B. 21 May 2001 - Gilo Neighborhood - Shooting - 6 Israeli civilians wounded.
C. 14 June 2001 - Murder of Lt. Colonel Yehuda Edri in the Jerusalem - Etzion area Tunnel Road.
D. 18 July 2001 - 2 mortar bombs fired at Gilo.
E. 28-29 August 2001 - 7 mortar bombs fired at Gilo

5. As a result of Atef's large scale terrorist activity, Israel requested that the PA arrest him (on 12 November 2000 and again on 30 September 2001). Not only did the PA not arrest him, but it transpires from the captured documents, that Arafat authorized by his signature the allocation of money to him, together with additional Fatah activists.