[continued from previous message] 
  
 British sources pointed out the consuls' letter had explicitly warned that, 
 unless their demands were met, the two countries "would withdraw our 
 monitors with immediate effect," and that an unspecified but "serious and 
 credible threat" to the security of the monitoring mission had been issued 
 in January 2006. 
  
 The sources repeated that the British consul general, John Jenkins, had 
 telephoned Mr Abbas's office on four separate occasions last weekend to make 
 sure Mr Abbas had read the letter and understood its importance. 
  
 The threat was in addition to a series of fears about the security of the 
 monitors, including that of a prison break-out, riots inside and outside the 
 prison, the possibility that a threat to kidnap the monitors would be 
 carried out, and that roadside bombs could be used against them as they were 
 against US personnel in Gaza in 2003. 
  
 The concerns expressed in the consuls' letter about security were additional 
 to those about infractions of the 2002 Ramallah agreement, under which the 
 prisoners were held in Jericho and which ranged from the liberal use of 
 mobile telephones by the prisoners to unsanctioned visits numbering up to 90 
 a week for Mr Saadat and Mr Shobaki. 
  
 The sources acknowledged Israel had expressed increasing impatience with the 
 regime at Jericho after the PFLP claimed responsibility for a suicide 
 bombing in Tel Aviv last year. 
  
 But it also looked increasingly likely yesterday that an additional factor 
 was the embarrassment - not to mention potential backlash from Israel -that 
 the US and the UK might have faced if the mission had still been in place if 
 and when the new Hamas-led Palestinian Authority had carried out its 
 intention to release Mr Saadat. 
  
 While that would have breached the 2002 agreement under which the men were 
 held, Hamas would have argued that Mr Saadat had never been convicted of any 
 charge and that the Palestinian high court had ruled in favour of his 
 release. 
  
 The British, who vigorously deny complicity with Israel over the withdrawal 
 of the monitors, say they told no one of the exact timing withdrawal of the 
 monitors. But Israel was kept informed of the discussions with the 
 Palestinians over the US and UK demand and, with its forces on high alert, 
 were aware of it as soon as they passed through the Jericho checkpoint. 
  
 While some Palestinian ministers have argued the raid was designed to boost 
 Mr Olmert's fortunes, other observers have pointed out that it was gamble 
 since if it had gone wrong - or if there are further retaliations before the 
 28 March elections -that could help the Likud party at the expense of Mr 
 Olmert's Kadima. 
  
  
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