Posted on 03/21/2002 10:29:29 AM PST by TheOtherOne
Palestinian Bomber Released From Jail Week Ago -Colleague
14:18 ET
Dow Jones International News
(Copyright (c) 2002, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)
NABLUS, West Bank (AP)--
Mohammed Hashaika, 22, a former policeman, detonated his explosives on a busy shopping street in west Jerusalem, killing himself and two other people, and wounding about 60 on Thursday afternoon. Hashaika belonged to the Al Aqsa Brigades, a militia linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.
Palestinian authorities arrested Hashaika two months ago after receiving information from Israeli intelligence sources that he was planning an attack, according to a member of the Al Aqsa Brigades, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Israeli security sources said Hashaika was among dozens of suspected militants Israel had asked the Palestinian Authority to arrest.
Hashaika, a Palestinian policeman who was fired after his arrest, was picked up in the West Bank town of Tulkarem, and had an explosives belt, the Al Aqsa member said.
Hashaika was later taken to a West Bank prison in Ramallah, but the Palestinians freed him last week, fearing that Israel was preparing another round of air strikes against Palestinian security facilities. On several occasions, the Palestinians have freed prisoners, saying they cannot ensure their safety when the Israeli planes and helicopters bomb.
The Israelis sent tanks and troops into Ramallah for several days last week, but did not carry out air strikes on this occasion.
Although the Al Aqsa Brigades is tied to Arafat's Fatah movement, group members claim they carry out attacks on their own - even when they are at odds with Arafat's official policy.
Thursday's bombing was condemned by Arafat and also forced the cancellation of scheduled truce talks. But a spokesman for the Al Aqsa Brigades, using the name Abu Mujahed, said the group was still carrying out attacks because no cease-fire had been reached.
"Arafat did not give any orders (to halt attacks), there is no cease-fire declaration yet," Abu Mujahed said. He said his group would be willing to observe a formal truce, "but the Israelis continue their aggression and assassinations and we will continue our attacks."
Asked if Arafat was in charge of the Al Aqsa Brigades, Abu Mujahed said: "The Al Aqsa Brigades is a popular movement established by the people, and gets its power from the people. The people want to resist."
(END) Dow Jones Newswires 21-03-02
1918GMT
Which is a long way of saying, "Yes, Arafat is in charge of Al Aqsa."
From your lips to Colin Powell's ear.....
Powell moves to designate group as terrorist organization
13:56 ET
Associated Press Newswires
Copyright 2002. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States said Thursday it is taking steps to designate the Al Aqsa Brigades, a Palestinian militia, as a foreign terrorist organization.
The brigades are linked to the Fatah faction of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
The disclosure came hours after Al Aqsa claimed responsibility for a terrorist act in a Jerusalem shopping area in which a Palestinian suicide bomber killed himself and two bystanders. At least 60 were wounded.
State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said Secretary of State Colin Powell began taking steps to designate Al-Aqsa a foreign terrorist organization on Tuesday and notified Congress on Wednesday.
It is illegal for Americans to provide financial support for groups so designated.
Reeker, asked about links between Al Aqsa and Arafat, said the connection between the group and the top Palestinian leadership was unclear.
The administration has come under strong pressure from members of Congress in recent days to declare Al Aqsa a terrorist organization.
After the suicide bombing, Powell called Arafat and demanded that he condemn the attack, Reeker said. Powell added, according to Reeker, "The time to act is now."
Terroist implies a just motive. There is no just motive for murder, other than self-defence.
Did he have to get a new belt, or did they just give him back the one they inventoried?
Since so many have died in its name, "martyrs" called to action by the rantings of Imams at the altar, how about just declaring the Al Asqa Mosque an Al Queda training camp and sending a bunker buster in its general direction.
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