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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

PA rejects claim of al-Qaeda in Gaza

2005-10-20

The Palestinian Authority rejected on Thursday a report from Israeli intelligence that foreign Islamists suspected of links to al-Qaeda had slipped into the Gaza Strip after Israel withdrew last month. Israel's military intelligence chief said this week that around 10 "global jihad operatives" entered Gaza during chaos at the border with Egypt following Israel's troop pullout to end 38 years of military rule. The border was later sealed. The Palestinian Interior Ministry said its investigations showed that the Israeli report was untrue.

"Certainly not!"

A spokesman accused Israel of trying to undermine President Mahmoud Abbas's White House meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush later on Thursday. "The ongoing investigations of the Palestinian security services confirm that no al-Qaeda members had entered the Gaza Strip. Al-Qaeda does not exist in Gaza," said Tawfiq Abu Khoussa. Gaza is widely seen as a testing ground for the statehood that Palestinians also seek in the occupied West Bank. A proven al-Qaeda presence could embarrass Abbas, whose forces are already struggling to cope with a plethora of local factions. While Palestinian Islamic militants share al Qaeda's hatred of the Jewish state and also use suicide tactics, experts say doctrinal differences preclude cooperation between the groups.

Yep. Doctrinal diff'rences. That'll keep 'em apart, yah sure youbetcha. Where do they get these experts?

Posted by:Dan Darling

#6 The PA is basically old-style secular Stalinist for the Muslim Palestinians as an overclass, with the Christian Palestinians in their historic role as dhimmis. They aren't at all interested in a Caliphate, except inasmuch as they assume that should one be established, they'll be able to take over, just as Lenin and Trotsky took over from the Mensheviks, then Lenin took over from Trotsky.

Posted by: trailing wife 2005-10-20 22:11

#5 No one named 'Al' here...No siree bob no.

Posted by: Ol Dirty American 2005-10-20 17:29

#4 You are supposed to differentiate between the various hues of terrorism. Like good rape and that bad kind. Problem is, it turns around and bites you in the ass. England and France, for example.

Posted by: Bardo 2005-10-20 15:56

#3 Now that I know that Palestinian security has checked this out and says there's nothing to it, I'll sleep much better.

Posted by: tu3031 2005-10-20 13:31

#2 deep investigation by the PA, huh? What'd they do? a head count?

Posted by: Frank G 2005-10-20 13:06

#1 Al Qaeda and the PA also share the same goals to extend the Caliphate to Israel and Jerusalem as stated in Zawhiri's letter to Zarqawi, but then the lying Jews must have forged that, too.

Posted by: Danielle 2005-10-20 12:09

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