An editorial from earlier this month in the Saudi Arabian Arab News newspaper takes on new relevance in light of the Israeli targeted killing of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin in Gaza this morning (Monday).
The article, entitled "Internecine Feuds", expresses a paranoia among many Arabs in the Palestinian Authority in light of successful Israeli strikes against terrorist leaders (now, including Yassin). The editors point out that Israel could not be as successful as it has been in such operations without local, Arab help. Arab News goes so far as to ask, "Is it possible that… rival militants are themselves giving information to the Israelis to enable their opponents to be targeted?"
The Saudi editors noted, "Palestinians know that their daily lives are watched by US spy satellites and that their telephone calls are closely monitored." However, the article continued, a "spy satellite cannot see who is traveling in a car, yet the Israelis always seem to know."
Warning against disunity, the Arab News editorial observed, "At the heart of Israel's deadly success in targeting its Palestinian opponents lies... human intelligence... people in the Palestinian community who through sheer greed or because of blackmail or coercion are prepared to provide information to Israel."
The article continued, "An Israeli intelligence chief recently admitted the value of these people but also referred to them with contempt.... he saw that they were betraying their own people." On the other hand, the Arab News editorial commented, "His comments were no doubt also designed to stir up suspicion among Palestinians."
If so, the ploy is successful, for the Saudi editors reported, "Such is the anger and tension in the community that some have been executed summarily on the vaguest of evidence...."
Finally, the Saudi Arabian newspaper concludes, "[Worse] than the distrust that any such betrayal will sow, is the great victory that it hands to the Zionists. They want a weak and divided Palestine. If they can achieve this thanks to information supplied by Palestinians themselves and thereby have the opportunity to assassinate leading militants, their triumph is doubled. If this is the way that Palestinian rivalries are leading, the country's faction leaders must come to their senses."
The article, entitled "Internecine Feuds", expresses a paranoia among many Arabs in the Palestinian Authority in light of successful Israeli strikes against terrorist leaders (now, including Yassin). The editors point out that Israel could not be as successful as it has been in such operations without local, Arab help. Arab News goes so far as to ask, "Is it possible that… rival militants are themselves giving information to the Israelis to enable their opponents to be targeted?"
The Saudi editors noted, "Palestinians know that their daily lives are watched by US spy satellites and that their telephone calls are closely monitored." However, the article continued, a "spy satellite cannot see who is traveling in a car, yet the Israelis always seem to know."
Warning against disunity, the Arab News editorial observed, "At the heart of Israel's deadly success in targeting its Palestinian opponents lies... human intelligence... people in the Palestinian community who through sheer greed or because of blackmail or coercion are prepared to provide information to Israel."
The article continued, "An Israeli intelligence chief recently admitted the value of these people but also referred to them with contempt.... he saw that they were betraying their own people." On the other hand, the Arab News editorial commented, "His comments were no doubt also designed to stir up suspicion among Palestinians."
If so, the ploy is successful, for the Saudi editors reported, "Such is the anger and tension in the community that some have been executed summarily on the vaguest of evidence...."
Finally, the Saudi Arabian newspaper concludes, "[Worse] than the distrust that any such betrayal will sow, is the great victory that it hands to the Zionists. They want a weak and divided Palestine. If they can achieve this thanks to information supplied by Palestinians themselves and thereby have the opportunity to assassinate leading militants, their triumph is doubled. If this is the way that Palestinian rivalries are leading, the country's faction leaders must come to their senses."