Hamas has joined with Al Qaeda to rid themselves of the “secular” Fatah and turn Gaza into an Islamic state. The time for joking about both sides losing is over. This is really, really bad news for Israel, the region, and frankly, the world. Another safe haven for terrorist training is a very bad thing.
Egyptian and Jordanian Intelligence Chiefs: “Al-Qaeda is Leading the Battles in Gaza” – Semadar Peri
According to the heads of Egyptian and Jordanian Intelligence, General Omar Sulayman and General Muhammad Dahbi, al-Qaeda caused the violation of the Mecca Agreement for a Palestinian unity government, the renewal of clashes between Hamas and Fatah, and the conversion of the strip into “Gazastan.” Egyptian intelligence officers presented photographs of the warfare, arguing that “the type of fighting that is being waged now in Gaza is characteristic of the style of al-Qaeda Iraq.” The intelligence chiefs expressed concern that the bloody clashes in Gaza will spill over to neighboring countries: Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. (Yediot Ahronot-Hebrew, 13Jun07)
And it gets worse.
There was one question about al-Qaeda’s presence in the Gaza Strip during 2006 that needed to be answered. Did it involve a foreign presence of al-Qaeda operatives from other Arab countries or was this Palestinian al-Qaeda affiliate just a group of Gazans who ideologically identified with global jihad but had no actual operational links with Osama bin Laden’s organization? For example, some have suggested that al-Qaeda in Gaza is nothing more than members of powerful clans, like that of Mumtaz Dagmoush, who are just using global jihadist rhetoric to distinguish themselves from any central authority whether it is led by Hamas or Fatah. But was the growth of al-Qaeda in Gaza totally a local affair? Significantly, al-Hayat answered this question when it reported on April 4, 2006, “a definite presence” of al-Qaeda operatives in Gaza who had infiltrated from Egypt, Sudan, and Yemen.
Moreover, a little over a month later Egypt’s Interior Ministry disclosed that two terrorist operatives involved in the April 2006 attack on the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Dahab had undergone training in the use of weapons and explosives in Gaza. They confessed to belonging to an organization called al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, which was also an earlier name for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s organization before it became al-Qaeda Iraq.4 Thus al-Qaeda related groups in Gaza appeared to have become involved in military operations and were not only propagating their religious worldview. The rise of this kind of militant jihadism in Gaza comes against the backdrop of repeated calls by Ayman al-Zawahiri, the deputy head of al-Qaeda, to export military operations from the war in Iraq to neighboring countries.
And it looks like Al Qaeda will remain unfettered in Gaza/Hamastan.
Anyone in Israel side still contemplating the question of a Palestinian partner might also need to do some rethinking. In Gaza, at least, it seems there is nobody left for Israel to talk to. The Rafah crossing yesterday had a long line of Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza. Haaretz received letters from Palestinians asking Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to save them from Hamas.
That, at the moment, looks like the last thing Olmert plans to do. Officials in the government and defense establishment are following developments with grave concern. But Israel, so long as it can afford to, will steer clear of military involvement in Gaza. The directives given to the army’s Southern Command talk about a high state of alert and readiness, but also restraint. The Israel Defense Forces will not enter the internal Palestinian conflict unless it is forcibly dragged into it. Qassam rocket fire will not elicit a wide-scale ground incursion, particularly when the chief of staff is still extremely preoccupied with preparing for a possible flare-up in the Syrian arena.
It looks like there are going to be two Palestinian states. One in the West Bank, and another in Gaza. But the one in Gaza—well, that one’s going to be as bad as Afghanistan was for the people, although hopefully not as good for terrorist training.
I’m wondering now if Egypt is going to get involved. They’re at huge risk from Al Qaeda, and have their own problems with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Another front in the war on terror has just opened.
I’m not at all sure you’re right. There will be Al Qaeda training facilities somewhere. Which is least bad: the Bekaa valley, under Hezbollah/Syrian protection; the border regions of Pakistan/Afghanistan; Iran…
… or within easy range of IDF 155mm howizters?
…err, that’s “howitzers,” dammit.
At this rate, there will be no civilians in Gaza pretty soon. When Israel has to go in, it will be able to dispense with the restraint that the world forces on it all the time.
If this really is al-Qaeda, it may very well be that the world will finally allow Israel to do what it should have done all along, which is to level the place.
If al-Qaeda in Gazastan is really that much of a threat to the surrounding Arab states as well, hell, maybe they’ll pitch in, or at least shut up when Israel eventually does what it has to do.
And do it from the air, this time, OK? Seal off the place, pound it with artillery, and then send in airstikes and attack helicopters. No repetitions of Jenin.
At this rate, there will be no civilians in Gaza pretty soon.
Sorry, Ephraim, but no. Something like 1.3 million Arabs live in Gaza (on land that could, maybe, support 20,000). Very few are leaving — they’ve no where to go . . . with few exceptions, like the Fatah suits who have fled to Egypt or their dachas in Judea and Samaria.
Most of them? Nah. The Egyptians won’t let them in; their close brethren in Judea and Samaria won’t let them in; and their loving Arab brethren in 23 to 33 other Arab countries (depending on how you count) don’t (term about to be used precisely:) have any use for them, either.
Nope; most of the civilians (and let’s remember that, even in Gazastan, there are hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, who don’t deserve the lives that their own people have inflicted upon them) are stuck there.
Yes, it’s just wishful thinking.
However, I’ve heard that 10,000 exit visas from Garbagecanistan have been approved so far this year alone. The fatwa forbidding emigration was promulgated for a reason.
But a guy can dream, can’t he? Wars always create refugees. Let’s hope this one creates as many as possible and that they find some way, any way, to leave for a better life.
Anywhere but to Israel, anyway.
Joel,
If the Arabs in Gaza don’t want to live under an Al-Qaeda or Taliban style regime they had better get off their asses and cooperate with Fatah to put down the Hamas and Al-Qaeda forces PDQ. It is ancient belief in the USA that all government rests on the consent of the governed, even tyrannies. Everybody there in Gaza seems to have rifles, they all seem to know who is whom, if there are a million of them determined to be rid of the jihadi terrorists they can get rid of them. Presumably not enough of them want to get rid of the jihadis to act. The jihadis propose to give them what they want, leadership in killing Jews. If so they will provoke the kind of war that was waged against Germany in World War II. These Arabs intend the genocide of Israel’s Jews; given that intention they have no standing to complain of some civilian casualties in a war they provoked.
Terrorism is the characteristic method of warmaking in the modern era by Arabs and most Muslims. Unless we wish it to spread throughout the world it must be stamped out, hard and soon. The terrorists must be killed and this method of warmaking seen to fail. We are near a tipping point on this matter. Terrorism has scored several successes among shortsighted and pusillanimous people. It is on the verge of becoming a recognized and accepted method of warfare. What a pleasant 21st Century that will make.
It struck me that the word Chamas (going by pronunciation) is actually from the Torah. Remember, the pasuk (sentence) in Noach, (6:11) Vatimalei Haaretz chamas – and the Earth was filled with violent robbery.
The translation of the organization name is indeed appropriate to their actions.
G-d promised not to bring a flood of water, but it looks like they are causing their own punishment – a “flood” of “fire”.
thanks for an informative post