Palestinian Civil War Watch - Fatah enlists another 4000
The Palestinian Civil War Watch continues.'Moderate Palestinian President'
According to a report in HaAretz, 2,500 men volunteered for Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Al-Asifa in the southern Gaza Strip, while the remainder will serve as rank-and-file soldiers in the Preventive Security Forces.
Al-Asifa ("the storm," which took its name from Fatah's military force of the 1960s-80s) is operating in the Rafah and Khan Yunis areas, and is under the command of Abd Al-Rauf Barbah, an officer from the Preventive Security Forces who is considered a "very colorful" figure in Gaza.
The Preventive Security Forces are commanded by Rashid Abu Shabak and Muhammed Dahlan. A few of the Preventive Security Forces' senior officers have been killed or injured recently in fighting with Hamas. In the most recent incident, Hamas terrorists ambushed the Forces' local commander in Khan Yunis, Rifat Kulab, shooting and wounding him. They later went to his home and set it on fire.
Fatah has been using a base at Tel al-Hawa to train its 'security forces.' Why that base has not yet come under Israeli fire is just another indication of the weakness of the Olmert government.
HaAretz reports that rumors are circulating in Gaza concerning the source of the funds for training the new soldiers, but neither it nor the exact connection of Dahlan to the new military frameworks is clearly defined. All the commanders are thought to be close to him. But he denies all connection to the activities of the preventive forces or to Al-Aqsa (you will note that I list Dahlan as their co-commander anyway- that more closely reflects reality). Hamas posters in Gaza denouncing Dahlan's continuing connection to the forces speak for themselves.
Palestinian sources say the recent recruits are not connected to the reinforcement of Abbas' presidential guard. Apparently, these recent recruits are intended for the coming civil war.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:25 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home