In the late 1990s, Maqdah allowed al-Qaeda to begin funding a network of obscure Sunni Islamist groups, most notably Esbat al-Ansar. Maqdah not only allowed Islamist cells to operate freely in the camp, but actively assisted them. In March 2000, he was indicted by Jordan's State Security Court on charges of providing arms and explosives to members of an al-Qaeda cell who planned to carry out terrorist attacks in the Kingdom at the turn of the millennium. Maqdah denied the charges, but said in an interview that he would be "honored to coordinate" with Osama bin Laden if the al-Qaeda leader ever attempted "to liberate the holy city of Jerusalem."[8] In September, he was convicted in absentia and sentenced to death. Since then, persistent Jordanian requests for his extradition have been rejected by Damascus.
Maqdah's supporters in the West Bank rejected the recent Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire and have claimed responsibility for several shootings since it came into effect. On June 30, a Bulgarian construction worker (apparently mistaken for an Israeli) was killed in the West Bank. "No one consulted us about this truce," said Maqdah in a recent interview. "We have said very clearly that we will never put down our arms while there is occupation and if one Palestinian prisoner remains in an Israeli jail."[17]
**After the outbreak of intense clashes between Fatah forces and al-Qaeda-backed militants in Ain al-Hilweh in May, Arafat reportedly ordered Fatah commanders in the camp to wipe out the Islamists.** Maqdah refused to sanction the campaign, however, and it was soon abandoned. This appears to have been the final straw. On June 25, Arafat formally removed Maqdah from his post, ordered him to hand over several strategic checkpoints to Arafat loyalists, and transferred around 150 men under his command to other units. Since then, Maqdah has declined to comment on whether he is still in control of Fatah forces in the camp, while Arafat appears content not to press the issue. For the time being, though, Maqdah's war against Israel continues.
Thank you.