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Israel-Palestine
Moussa Arafat visits Himmler
2005-09-07
Gunmen in Gaza shot dead former Palestinian security chief and local strongman Moussa Arafat, a cousin to late leader Yasser Arafat, after storming his home on Wednesday, police and medics said. The killing of Arafat, who remained an adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas, came as another sign of the factional turmoil in the territory, from which Israeli troops are due to withdraw this month following the evacuation of settlers.
Yeah. Y'gotta look pretty hard, but those signs are there to the discerning...
Police at Arafat’s home said he had been dragged from his home by gunmen and then executed on the street outside. Blood spattered the street. Doctors said Arafat was dead on arrival at Gaza’s main al-Quds hospital.
Even the RAB couldn't have done it this well!
Arafat, a major-general, had been head of the powerful military intelligence, but he was fired in April as President Abbas cleaned out Yasser Arafat’s old guard under pressure to clean up corrupt and ineffective forces.
"Moussa, yer fired!"
To contain Arafat’s fury at being sidelined, Abbas retained him in the position of pre-cadaver special security adviser.
"Youse can't do dat to me! I got minions, y'know!"
"Really, Moussa, you'll like Paris!"
"I ain't goin' to no damned Paris!"
"Mustapha, I tried to reason with him. He wouldn't listen."
"I'll call the goon squad, boss!"
Arafat had been at odds with many in the Palestinian security forces and armed factions. He had survived several assassination attempts.
Only takes one. U-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu .....
Posted by:Steve White

#23  by that time they'll be ransoms...
Posted by: Frank G   2005-09-07 23:39  

#22  Could the security situation worsen to the point that the UN and EU deem it too dangerous to dispense their welfare payments?
Posted by: RWV   2005-09-07 23:32  

#21  Eyewitnesses reported that some of the gunmen who participated in the raid on Arafat's two-story villa in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood used armored vehicles belonging to one of the security organizations.

There has also been speculation that the Committees are simply a deniable arm of the PA, like the PFLP or ANO to the PLO in the 1970s and 80s.
Posted by: Colt   2005-09-07 18:29  

#20  Arafat probably double-crossed the Committees. Bad move.
Posted by: Colt   2005-09-07 18:28  

#19  Wretchard : Speechless in Gaza
Posted by: 3dc   2005-09-07 18:12  

#18  Mrs. Davis---Great reference to Gilbert & Sullivan. They had this guy pegged a hundred years ago. Heh.
Posted by: Al-Aska Paul   2005-09-07 16:09  

#17  A shame. I understand him top have been the very model of a modern major general.

The guy had a knack w/splodydopes, cash, and bowel movements.
Posted by: Red Dog   2005-09-07 11:15  

#16  A shame. I understand him top have been the very model of a modern major general.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-09-07 11:06  

#15  Paul and LH

Dahlan has been hospitalized lately. In fact he flew out of the country (Egypt or Jordan) for treatment. Of course this could have been part of the cover.
Posted by: mhw   2005-09-07 09:50  

#14  OTOH its hard not to notice that the Abbas regime had no love for Moussa, and the death of one of the more corrupt members of the old regime is not inconvenient.

They're biggest beef with him was his corruption was cutting in on their corruption.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2005-09-07 09:50  

#13  Hey! Does anyone know Saeb Erekat's address? Ima thinkr he needs a "candygram" too
Posted by: Frank G   2005-09-07 09:41  

#12  interesting question, Paul. The public reaction from all concerned is that this shows the weakness of Pal security, since they couldnt protect as big a name as Moussa Arafat from what LOOKS like the usual gang of street thugs/idealistic resistance group. The Israelis are taking the opportunity to remind Abbas that he needs to get his house in order and restore security. OTOH its hard not to notice that the Abbas regime had no love for Moussa, and the death of one of the more corrupt members of the old regime is not inconvenient. The whining about insecurity could well be cover, and the Israelis could certainly be in on the cover.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2005-09-07 09:13  

#11  Enjoy hell.
Posted by: Chris W.   2005-09-07 09:04  

#10  Could not have happened to a nicer family.
Posted by: MunkarKat   2005-09-07 09:03  

#9  To contain Arafat’s fury at being sidelined, Abbas retained him in the position of special security adviser.

Thereby vividly illustrating the phrase "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer".
Posted by: tu3031   2005-09-07 08:58  

#8  "Mark my [Scooter McGruder] words, someday the paleos will look back on "occupation" as their golden age of peace and prosperity."

Not only the Paleos. I think Egypt, Jordan and the Saudis were secretly hoping that Israel would stay in the Gaza.
Posted by: mhw   2005-09-07 08:01  

#7  New info.
'We killed Moussa Arafat since the PA took no action'
The Popular Resistance Committees, a violent group made up largely of former members of Abbas' Fatah movement, later claimed responsibility. The group said it killed Arafat, a cousin of the late Yasser Arafat, to punish him for alleged corruption after the Palestinian security forces had taken no action against him.


Posted by: gromgoru   2005-09-07 07:35  

#6  Say hi to Feliks and Reinhard for us, too.
Posted by: 11A5S   2005-09-07 07:31  

#5  Mark my words, someday the paleos will look back on "occupation" as their golden age of peace and prosperity. Effin' savages.
Posted by: Scooter McGruder   2005-09-07 04:48  

#4  Dahlan earning his pay cheque?
Posted by: Paul Moloney   2005-09-07 03:34  

#3  Debka sez Gaza will soon look like Beirut in the 70s. Can't wait, especially the liberal handwringing and demands 'somebody do something'. Which of course won't happen, cos no one is crazy enough going to send their troops to breakup a paleo civil.
Posted by: phil_b   2005-09-07 02:12  

#2  by "gunmen in Gaza"? Do they not want to say they are other Palestinians?
Posted by: Jan   2005-09-07 00:38  

#1  buh bye.
Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom   2005-09-07 00:31  

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