Hamas: Looking Toward the Post-Arafat Era

(News First Class-Hebrew) - Speaking to a closed forum, a senior leader of Iz a-Din al-Kassam, the military wing of Hamas, revealed the policy of the movement after the Arafat era comes to an end: Hamas has tens of activists who have undergone training to carry out suicide attacks and who are ready to carry out their missions at any time. Hamas is planning a mega-attack, targeting tall buildings including apartment buildings. These require car and truck bombs. In parallel, efforts continue at targeting Israeli leaders. Decisions of the "political" wing guide the activities of the military wing. The government of Abu Ala is worse than that of Abu Mazan. Abu Ala was one of the architects of Oslo and his only achievements were in the service of the enemy. The Israeli decision to remove Arafat was made in order to pressure the PA to act against the Islamic opposition. We don't depend on Arafat, who will die soon anyway. Arafat should have retired years ago. Arafat's exile would have a number of positive aspects: Escalation - all groups would see this as an event requiring a painful response to the Zionists. Arafat would better assist in highlighting the Palestinian problem if he is outside the territories. An opportunity would open for a new leadership to arise, one closer to the generation that directed the first and second intifadas. The possibility exists that many of today's supporters of the PLO and Arafat would join the Islamic movement after it becomes clear that the PA and the PLO have reached their end, following Arafat's removal.


2003-10-10 00:00:00

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