Clashes in Nablus
Several weeks ago Pres. Abbas of the PA sent 300 armed PA policemen into Nablus and proclaimed that the city was now under the control of "law and order." This initiative was supported by EU funding as well as training programs by the British, American and other police forces. Then a few days ago PA Interior Minister Abdel Razak Yahya announced that the al Aksa Martyr's Brigades in the West Bank had ceased to exist.
The Aksa Martyr's Brigades, formally a part of Fatah, that has supposedly been destroyed, issued a statement ridiculing this and calling Yahya a traitor and a collaborator with Israel. Meanwhile gun-toting thugs continue on the streets of Nablus and disturbing reports indicate that the new police force barely controls traffic, and are unable to patrol at night.
Two weeks ago an Israeli, Ido Kantrowitz, was gunned down by terrorists while driving in the West Bank, and it was later found that the killers had been members of the PA security forces from Nablus. Last week another attack occured when two off-duty Israeli soldiers were murdered near Kiryat Arba. Because they managed to kill one of their attackers and wound another, the Israeli authorities found that these attackers were also from the PA security forces in Nablus.
So a few days ago the IDF entered Nablus in strength, with jeeps and tanks, and proceeded to surround the central area. A firefight ensued, during which the IDF killed several terrorists, captured about 20, and discovered an underground system of tunnels that included a weapons cache and a bomb and rocket factory, where an active suicide belt was found. These facilities were blown up and destroyed. Two of those captured included the PA security men who were wanted for the killing of Kantrowitz. No Israeli casualties were reported.
Now the bizarre thing about this situation is that as usual the PA issued a statement accusing Israel of undermining the "peace process," and the Head of Security in Nablus, Gen Kmeil, while acknowledging that the PA police had not managed to control Nablus, and agreeing that Aksa Marty's Brigade terrorists had been incoporated into the PA security forces, accused Israel of seeking to "thwart" the PA's efforts to impose law and order in Nablus.
Ironically, the IDF operation will actually help the PA, by taking many Aksa terrorists out of circulation, either by killing or capturing them, and thus removing the very opposition to the PA's supposed attempt to restore control of Nablus. However, this IDF raid, although effective, cannot remove the Aksa Martyr's Brigades terrorists entirely from the city. But, as usual, it appears that while proclaiming their success, the PA actually did nothing to effectively remove the terrorist threat, and it remains to the IDF to periodically go in and destroy their capability. Israel should make no concessions to the PA while this travesty and lying facade continues.
The Aksa Martyr's Brigades, formally a part of Fatah, that has supposedly been destroyed, issued a statement ridiculing this and calling Yahya a traitor and a collaborator with Israel. Meanwhile gun-toting thugs continue on the streets of Nablus and disturbing reports indicate that the new police force barely controls traffic, and are unable to patrol at night.
Two weeks ago an Israeli, Ido Kantrowitz, was gunned down by terrorists while driving in the West Bank, and it was later found that the killers had been members of the PA security forces from Nablus. Last week another attack occured when two off-duty Israeli soldiers were murdered near Kiryat Arba. Because they managed to kill one of their attackers and wound another, the Israeli authorities found that these attackers were also from the PA security forces in Nablus.
So a few days ago the IDF entered Nablus in strength, with jeeps and tanks, and proceeded to surround the central area. A firefight ensued, during which the IDF killed several terrorists, captured about 20, and discovered an underground system of tunnels that included a weapons cache and a bomb and rocket factory, where an active suicide belt was found. These facilities were blown up and destroyed. Two of those captured included the PA security men who were wanted for the killing of Kantrowitz. No Israeli casualties were reported.
Now the bizarre thing about this situation is that as usual the PA issued a statement accusing Israel of undermining the "peace process," and the Head of Security in Nablus, Gen Kmeil, while acknowledging that the PA police had not managed to control Nablus, and agreeing that Aksa Marty's Brigade terrorists had been incoporated into the PA security forces, accused Israel of seeking to "thwart" the PA's efforts to impose law and order in Nablus.
Ironically, the IDF operation will actually help the PA, by taking many Aksa terrorists out of circulation, either by killing or capturing them, and thus removing the very opposition to the PA's supposed attempt to restore control of Nablus. However, this IDF raid, although effective, cannot remove the Aksa Martyr's Brigades terrorists entirely from the city. But, as usual, it appears that while proclaiming their success, the PA actually did nothing to effectively remove the terrorist threat, and it remains to the IDF to periodically go in and destroy their capability. Israel should make no concessions to the PA while this travesty and lying facade continues.
posted by Jack Cohen at 6:27 PM
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