Hamas officials in the West Bank say 150 members of the Islamic militant group were arrested in an overnight raid by Palestinian security forces.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the Aug. 31 attack near the West Bank city of Hebron on the eve of a new round of Mideast peace talks.

Hamas lawmaker Omar Abdel-Raziq says the arrests are political and is accusing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of trying to please the Israelis.

Abbas is in a fierce rivalry with Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip from his forces three years ago. A Palestinian security official confirmed there were arrests, but gave no further details. He spoke on condition of anonymity under official guidelines. — ap

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