Posted on 08/06/2005 12:25:16 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - The Gaza Strip could become a new "safe haven" for al Qaeda operatives following Israel's scheduled pullout from the Gaza Strip later this month, a former Israeli army intelligence chief said here on Friday.
Al Qaeda announced on one of its official websites this week that it had established a military wing in the Gaza Strip.
The Islamic website, considered a mouthpiece for Abu Musab al Zarkawi, said that the "Jihad Brigades in the Promised Land" had already carried out mortar and rocket attacks from the Palestinian refugee camp of Khan Younis aimed at the Jewish Gaza Strip settlements of Neveh Dekalim and Ganei Tal.
The website showed a video clip of terrorists launching rockets.
"The Brigades are not a new organization but merely a spirit of faith pushing the jihad fighters in the Promised Land to close ranks behind an honest and uncompromising leadership," the declaration said.
The Israeli army was quoted by the daily Ha'aretz as saying that it was skeptical of the reliability of the posting.
But reserve Maj.-General Jacob Amidror, former head of the army's research and assessment division which prepares the national intelligence assessment, said it is not surprising that al Qaeda would claim to have set up a cell in the Gaza Strip because of what he called "historical relations" between al Qaeda and Hamas.
Hamas, which is on the State Department's list of terrorist organizations, recently won big in Palestinian municipal elections and is considered to be strong in the Gaza Strip.
Responsible for many deadly suicide terror attacks in Israel during the past decade, Hamas leaders have said they will celebrate Israel's withdrawal of troops and uprooting of 21 Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip as a victory for terrorism.
Both are extremist organizations, with a slightly different focus: Hamas is warring against Israel as a first step, and al Qaeda wants to get rid of what it considers corrupt Muslim regimes, but both have the dream of establishing an Islamic ruling system around the world, said Amidror.
Al Qaeda could take advantage of the Gaza Strip as a new "safe haven" in the Middle East, said Amidror.
"Ironically, it will be the only place where nobody will initiate action against them. They will be under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority. Israel will not feel free to act inside Gaza, and the U.S. for sure won't act," he said.
P.A. Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has already said he would not take military action against armed groups, he added.
According to Amidror, the only way to prevent al Qaeda from establishing a base in the Gaza Strip would be for America and Egypt to prevent al Qaeda members from entering the Gaza Strip and at the same time apply pressure on the Palestinians to crack down on terrorist groups.
"Al Qaeda is always looking for a stronghold in Gaza or other places," said Yoram Schweitzer, from the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies in Tel Aviv.
There have already been instances where al-Qaeda operatives have reportedly visited Israel, he said. But Schweitzer said he did not believe that al Qaeda would be successful in establishing a base here, although they would not abandon that dream.
The relationship between Hamas and al Qaeda is not that good, said Schweitzer, and Hamas does not look up to al Qaeda.
Following the Israeli withdrawal, he said, he believes that Gaza would remain "relatively quiet" because the Palestinians will want to maintain a calm life there.
Then again, this is the Middle East, Schweitzer said, where things are unpredictable.
Alternatively, it can be a big parking lot.
I have read the Lebanese Islamics are calling for the Palestinian refugees in Lebanese refugee camps to go to Gaza. It could be that we may see a gathering of the worst thing tht we have ever seen there. To me this is scarey for there are Palestinian refugees that have settled all over the Middle East.
The USA may regret it's interference in the affairs of Israel.
Too bad Israel has no sane friends.
If it did, someone may attempt to talk them off the ledge.
That includes the US, which is as deluded as Israel if the US supports this insanity.
What the US doesn't seem to realize is that when Israel jumps to its suicide, the splatter will land all over the US.
Isn't there being a tall wall built around Gaza?
Those skinny Al Qeuda turds are pretty wirey but I don't think they will be able to jump a 20+ foot wall.
Put the wall around them, let them have sea access and see how many of their arab brothers send goods to help them.
Prediction...0 of them
Why the pretense at possibilities, when any honest student of what's going on in the Middle East KNOWS that the Gaza strip WILL become a haven for Al Queda, and for every other group of thugs in the region - no "if" about it.
If the terrorism from Gaza spikes up radically, I have little doubt that Israel will re-occupy the area, and maybe next time it will be for good.
Just send all the Arabs in Gaza to Jordan and then they can have their Arab civil war there. Jordon can finally become the "Palestinian State" it is (60% now) and we can end the pretense that the Palestinians "don't have their own state".
The World, including the US, insists that there must be easy passage of people and goods between Gaza and the "West Bank" so the idea that they are being "boxed" up is a myth. Plus they will have sea and air port.
In addition Israel will still be pressured to provide them some employment and health care.
Gaza will be sacrosanct and inviolate to the World. A place where the "poor suffering" "Palestinians" are "finally independent". Bin Ladin can come in and run and win an election and the US will be powerless to do anything.
In all of history, the terrorists would have never won a greater prize. Spain succumbing was a joke compared to Israel uprooting its citizens, destroying their homes and synagogues and digging up their dead for not so much as a thank you in return from their- and our- enemies.
Terrorists worldwide will celebrate and maybe will recommit themselves to doing to the US what they accomplished to do to Israel.
Care not a wit for Israel, but know Americans will die because of this.
Oh, good. A hand full of daisy cutters, and the war will be over.
Or fill it with water and call it Lake TransJordan.
Duh?
Riiiiiight. If you believe that, you probably believe in flying horses, mountains that turn into camels, and the sun sets into a puddle of mud every night.
If you believe all this you too can marry a 6 yr old girl, and have sex with her at 9.
Kill A Commie For Mommie
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes
You rant and rave like this is something new. Hamas and the PFLP have had strong ties to al-Qaeda for a long time and this has been reported before. The new al-Qaeda announcement is propaganda, not a substantive change.
Israel tried to give Gaza to Egypt. They didn't want it back. We tried to give it to Jordan. They didn't want it either. You know why? Gaza is an overpopulated, dirt poor, violent hole. It is ungovernable. It is, has been, and likely always will be a hotbed of terrorism.
Safe haven? Attack Israel or the U.S. and one is never safe.
Hamas leaders have said they will celebrate Israel's withdrawal of troops and uprooting of 21 Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip as a victory for terrorism.
Bwhahaha. This will mark the beginning of the end for them,
in the days to come, they will think back and long for the
"jewish occupation".
I know you meant to write:
You, Netanyahu, Arens, many many others, rant and rave.....
Gaza can be obliterated if they launch rockets..
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.