[Ha'aretz] Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff - On Friday, Nasser al-Lahem, editor-in-chief of the independent Palestinian news agency Maan, published an article criticizing the PA's handling of the Gaza kidnapping crisis. The very high number of casualties (most of them armed) and the suffering of the population in the northern Gaza Strip are cause for questions regarding the wisdom behind the latest adventure into which Hamas has led the PA. The position expressed by al-Lahem, a resident of Dehaishe near Bethlehem, appears to reflect the opinion of many Palestinians. The Palestinians are particularly pointing fingers at the Kassam rocket crews, blaming them for causing massive losses to the Palestinian militants. A source at the Palestinian security organizations said Saturday that every militant taking part in the fighting against Israel receives payment. "For launching Kassams, there is a price, just like for firing an anti-tank rocket," the source said. This money comes from Khaled Mashaal in Damascus.
2006-07-11 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive