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Behind the Hamas-Fatah Skirmishing

[Jerusalem Report/Washington Institute for Near East Policy] Ehud Yaari - An unprecedented arms-acquisition effort is underway in Gaza. Close to 20 tons of standard explosives have been smuggled in since Israel withdrew last summer. Thousands of RPG grenade launchers and large quantities of rifles, pistols, and grenades are coming in through the tunnels under the Philadelphi Route, separating the Strip from Egypt. Several Katyusha rocket launchers, like those used by Hizballah against northern Israel, are already in the hands of Hamas and other terror groups. It is only a matter of time before they also get shoulder-launched anti-aircraft rockets and third generation anti-tank missiles, like the Russian Koronet. Such weaponry will enable the terrorists to effectively target vehicles and structures 3-4 kms. inside Israel. Also underway is a feverish campaign to dig tunnels into Israel under the security barrier around the Strip, with the aim of facilitating terror attacks in Israel. The Israeli government will have to decide sooner rather than later whether to implement the recommendation of the army and the security services to retake the area along the border between the PA and Egypt. Such a move will once again turn the Gaza Strip into a sealed-off enclave. The alternative is for Gaza to continue becoming a huge stockpile of weapons and ammunition that must ultimately explode, with disastrous consequences. Fatah is not on the way back to power. Hamas is gradually penetrating the security apparatuses which are rapidly ceasing to function in the West Bank, while in Gaza they are receding into a near-desperate defensive posture. The process of degeneration in Fatah is carrying on at full steam. At most, Fatah will manage to survive as the junior partner to Hamas. Israel's partner in the Oslo process, the Palestinian element that is committed to compromise, in theory at least, is going bankrupt.
2006-10-12 01:00:00
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