JERUSALEM, Israel - Despite Egyptian-mediated talks between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party and Hamas, tension between the two rival Palestinian factions continues to rise.

As the end of Abbas's tenure on January 9 moves closer, Israel's defense establishment is concerned over intelligence reports that Hamas may try to kidnap and/or assassinate senior Fatah officials.

Hamas legislators rejected Abbas's announcement that he intends to extend his tenure for another year, leaving open the possibility that Hamas may try to escalate tensions in Judea and Samaria by targeting senior Fatah officials.

PA security forces recently discovered two underground Hamas warehouses and explosives labs and detained 50 Hamas members. They also closed down a Hamas training camp, arresting 10 Hamas terrorists at the camp.

PA forces have reportedly been trying to ferret out other terror groups operating in Jenin and Nablus. They arrested a female suicide bomber planning an attack at the Hawara checkpoint.

Source: YNet news