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| Middle East |
| Exiled Palestinian thugs ran two-year reign of terror |
| 2002-05-13 |
| Residents of Bethlehem are expressing relief at the exile to Cyprus of 13 hard-core Palestinian tough guys, who they said had imposed a two-year reign of terror that included rape, extortion and executions. Palestinians who live near the church described the group as a criminal gang that preyed especially on Palestinian Christians, demanding "protection money" from the main businesses, which make and sell religious artifacts. Terrorism and criminal activity go hand in hand. It's not only political power that grows out of the barrel of a gun, but power of any sort. As long as you're armed and without a conscience you can do anything, above any law. According to residents, one of the group's top leaders, Jihad Ja'ara, 29, traveled around town with an M-16 rifle, terrorizing the community. Residents also said that Ja'ara and another top leader, Ibrahim Abayat, took nine Muslims whom they suspected of collaborating with Israel into an apartment near Manger Square and fatally shot them. The executions took place shortly before the April 2 gunbattle between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters that sent more than 200 Palestinians fleeing into the church, where they remained for 39 days. Abayat, in a phone interview from inside the church while the siege was under way, said he was personally responsible for the killings. He said there was no need for a trial because "it was a well-known fact that these people were linked to Israel." Therefore no trial is needed. If you're armed and they're not, your power is absolute, isn't it? See the above. But Yasser assures us they're not terrorists. Al-Aqsa's just a jobs program... Abayat and Mr. Ja'ara are now at a seaside hotel in Cyprus, waiting to be moved to an as-yet-unnamed European country, where many expect them to be set free. The gang has said it is part of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. Charles at LGF points out that the Euros are having second thoughts about taking them in. A little late for that now, isn't it? The gang apparently used its ready access to guns and close ties with Mr. Arafat's Palestinian security forces to extort money, run guns, smuggle drugs and even demand that young women separate from their husbands. After one woman was reportedly raped by a gang member, the perpetrator was put in jail, but only briefly. His comrades reportedly forced the jailers to let him go. That's because they're above the law. You can't jug someone who's above the law. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |