Posted on 11/29/2003 10:17:26 PM PST by Jacob Kell
Intelligence officials in Israel say al-Qaida is trying to establish operational cells in the Palestinian Authority, attempting to reach out to the Israeli-Arab communities in the Galilee and in the so-called ''triangle region,'' according to Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, a premium, online intelligence newsletter published by WND.
According to G2 Bulletin sources in Tel Aviv, the Internal Security Service (Shin-Beth) has foiled a number of attempts by al-Qaida sympathizers to cross the border between Israel and Jordan, planning to establish cells in Nablus and Jenin.
Similar attempts were made to penetrate the Gaza Strip through the underground tunnel systems coming from Egypt.
According to G2 Bulletin, militant Muslims in the Palestinian Authority, such as the Hamas Islamic Movement and the Islamic Jihad, are concerned al-Qaida will try to lure their members to join their organizations.
Signs of growing al-Qaida interest in Israel are also causing concerns within the Palestinian government which is having difficulties reining in Palestinian militants.
G2 Bulletin has learned from an Egyptian source Egypt has warned the Palestinian Authority that possible al-Qaida activity in the Palestinian territory and in Israel will bring disaster on the Palestinian themselves.
Similar warnings were issued by Syria which has growing difficulties in controlling militant factions of the Hezbollah and pro al-Qaida sympathizers in the Palestinian refugee camp Ein-al-Hilwe.
Last month, the Palestinian Authority's security services said they arrested eight suspects in a bombing of a U.S. diplomatic convoy in the Gaza Strip, in which three American security guards were killed.
The eight, said to be members of a relatively unknown umbrella group called the Popular Resistance Committee, were arrested in the Jabalya refugee camp after a gun battle in which several people were wounded. Israel security officials described the arrests as ''a show in an attempt to calm the Americans.''
Palestinian sources did not rule out that an outside organization had backed the attack, but said they had no information. Israel has said in the past that Hezbollah and even al-Qaida were trying to recruit in the Gaza Strip.
There is little question about the popular support of Osama bin Laden in the Palestinian Authority – and even among Israeli Arabs.
For instance, Israeli customs last week seized a shipment of 450 singing, dancing Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein dolls under a law banning incitement. The battery-powered figurines were confiscated at the northern port of Haifa, Customs Authority spokeswoman Idit Lev-Zerahiya said.
An Israeli Arab businessman from the northern village of Qafr Qara admitted under questioning to importing the 400 copies of the al-Qaida leader and 50 of the deposed Iraqi ruler, as a ''gimmick'' for sale to Jews and Arabs, a customs statement said. While Palestinians have held some demonstrations in support of bin Laden there have been no mass displays of affection for the accused terror mastermind. Most Israelis abhor Saddam as an enemy who fired missiles at the Jewish state during the 1991 Gulf War. Popular sentiment in the Palestinian areas is largely in favor of the deposed Iraqi leader, especially for his support of the Palestinian cause.
Or to put a more homely spin to it "Old Usama is a pretty good ol' boy, but he just craps too close to the house and tracks it in." There's nothing like pure stupidity.
Similar attempts were made to penetrate the Gaza Strip through the underground tunnel systems coming from Egypt.
This is reason #1 why Israel should NEVER allow the Palestinians to have their own state.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.