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Palestinian Contempt for Talks with Israel Grows

[Boston Globe] Thanassis Cambanis - In a series of interviews, eight militants in the Gaza Strip refugee camp at Khan Yunis discussed the rocket attacks, kidnappings, and suicide operations they plan against Israel. Unlike their parents, many of whom still believe that Palestinians can find some political accommodation with Israel, these men say they are convinced that Palestinians will only achieve statehood through force - and that it might take decades or longer before they can effectively challenge Israel's military. Al Mullah Omar, 24, is a fighter for the Popular Resistance Committees. Anyone interested in attacking Israel can join the group, he said. All that matters is that fighters are willing to attack Israelis by any means, no matter how long the odds of success. The group's ethos of pure militancy has made it the fastest-growing armed wing in Gaza, aided, according to Israeli authorities, by generous funding from Iran. Omar expects his children to grow up to be fighters. "If I have a son and he doesn't join the resistance, I'll snap his neck," Omar said.
2006-12-04 01:00:00
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