Israel Matzav

Who's policing the Rafah border crossing?

Two hundred terrorists wearing 'Palestinian police' uniforms appeared at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt today. But whom they belong to is a matter of debate.

Fatah officials told The Jerusalem Post that the policemen were members of Hamas and that they were deployed along the border following a secret agreement between Hamas and the Egyptian government.

"These are not our policemen," said a senior Fatah official. "They are all members of Hamas's Executive Force and armed wing, Izzadin Kassam.

They simply changed their clothes and are now wearing uniforms of the Palestinian National Security Force. Many of them also shaved their beards so that they would not be identified as Hamas members."

The official said most of the former Fatah-affiliated policemen in the Gaza Strip were refusing to serve under Hamas. He said PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas had instructed his loyalists in the security forces to stay at home after the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri denied the claims, insisting that all the policemen who were now guarding the border with Egypt were members of the PA National Security Force.

"They reported to work on the instructions of [Hamas] Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh," he said. "Many of the policemen and security officers have actually returned to work in the Gaza Strip."

Abu Zuhri also denied that the deployment of the policemen was part of a deal between Hamas and Egypt.

"This is a natural move," he said. "Their task is to enforce law and order along the border, as they have done in the past."

I've always said that they're all the same terrorists - they just change uniforms....

Previously at Israel Matzav:

Fatah and al-Qadea v. Egypt and Hamas

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:45 PM