Three members of Hamas cell from the Bethlehem area have been arrested by Israel on suspicion of planning to assassinate foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman. The three were arrested in August during the Gaza war but the Israeli authorities only released details of the affair this week.

The Palestinians live in the West Bank village of Harmala, near Bethlehem, a few miles from Mr Lieberman’s home on the Jewish settlement of Nokdim. According to the charge sheet, they planned to fire a rocket-propelled grenade at Mr Lieberman’s convoy, hoping that such a daring assassination would shock Israeli leaders into calling off the Gaza war.

The indictment states the three followed Mr Lieberman’s convoy when it passed through the area and measured the journey length between key road junctions in order to determine the most suitable spot for firing the rocket.

However, the plot was uncovered by the Israel Security Agency (ISA) and the cell leader was arrested in August when he tried to buy the rocket launcher.

The cell was headed by Ibrahim Zir (37), who was imprisoned several times in the past for Hamas activity. He recruited two other Hamas operatives from the village who had been imprisoned by Israel in the past, including his brother Ziad (35). The cell leader then approached Yousef al-Sheikh (50), a local Hamas militant, and asked to help him obtain a rocket launcher.

The three were charged this week with conspiring to cause premeditated death and conspiring to buy arms. Israel believes that although they were Hamas operatives, they planned the assassination without the knowledge of the organisation’s leadership.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri refused to confirm or deny the report, saying the group had no information on the matter. He noted: “The leaders of the occupation, who are responsible for the killing of women and children and the desecration of holy sites, are legitimate targets.”

Mr Lieberman refused to comment on the affair.

Israel’s defence minister Moshe Ya’alon praised the efforts of the ISA and the army. “This is the fourth time since May that we have managed to foil attempts by terror cells – predominantly Hamas cells – who are attempting to spearhead terrorist activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem.” According to Israeli officials, the cell also planned to shoot at settlers and troops in the Etzion settlement bloc, south of Bethlehem.

Palestinian security forces warned yesterday that Hamas is seeking to carry out a large-scale attack to spark a third intifada uprising, according Israel’s channel 10 television.

Palestinian security forces operating across West Bank cities have arrested 30 people this week for allegedly planning to carry out attacks against Israelis. Palestinian sources said the arrests were ordered by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas as part of his government’s efforts to ease the recent tension.