Palestinian Authority is wiretapping people with the CIA’s help, leaked document charges

Mahmoud Abbas waiting to address the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 22, 2016. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

(JTA) — A leaked document alleges that the Palestinian Authority has been wiretapping its residents with the backing of the CIA.

The document was shared on the messaging service WhatsApp by an anonymous employee of the Palestinian wiretapping agency last month, according to The Associated Press. It says the agency was set up jointly by three Palestinian security services and contains transcripts of recorded phone conversations.

The wiretapping allegedly targeted thousands of Palestinians, from the heads of militant groups to judges, lawyers and allies of P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas, according to AP.

Now two of the people allegedly wiretapped are suing the Palestinian Authority: Tawfiq Tirawi, the Palestinian West Bank intelligence chief from 1994 to 2008, and Jawad Obeidat, head of the Palestinian bar association.

“I made these phone calls and this is evidence that the leaked report is true,” said Obeidat, who has led anti-government protests in the past, according to AP. “This is a blatant violation of human rights.”

The wiretapping reportedly began in 2013 with help from the CIA. In exchange, the P.A. allegedly shared the intelligence with the U.S. spy agency. The report comes as Abbas feuds with President Donald Trump over Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The head of Palestinian security services called the report “nonsense,” according to AP.