Fatah factions are trying to unite the forces into an honor guard for the sake of the “armed struggle.”
Al Aksa has strengthened its political power as a faction within Fatah during the run-up to elections to the Palestinian parliament, scheduled for January 2006.
In an interview with the press, one of the senior officers of the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades, Khaled al-Jaaberi, stated that the Palestinian Authority has agreed to absorb 2500 terrorists from the Gaza Strip within the ranks of its security forces. This agreement was reached after prolonged negotiations, during which it was decided that the terrorists would be chosen from every faction within Fatah, including the Abu Raish brigades. Preference would be given for wounded terrorists and “humanitarian cases.”
Over the past few months, the PA security forces have been recruiting Al Aksa members from throughout the authority and Judea, but from northern Samaria in particular.
The Palestinian Authority hopes that this will enable it to deal with the challenges posed by Hamas as the elections approach.
Jaaberi also stated that the armed Fatah brigades are continuing with negotiations to unite the various factions in an “honor guard” that will represent the “resistance” and wage the struggle for “the liberation of the rest of the Palestinian land in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.”
In political terms, the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades are reorganizing to become a strong force within Fatah, with the intent of pushing out the “Old Guard,” replacing them with a “new generation.” Last week, the Brigades did very well in pre-elections within Fatah itself. The leader of the Tanzim, Marwan Barghouti, currently serving five life sentences in an Israeli jail for murder, also made significant gains.
Hamas, on the other hand, continues to present itself as a government alternative. It has denied rumors that it has agreed to allow terrorists from its armed Izzadin al-Kassam brigade to join the PA security forces. Hamas has certain preconditions for this, such as organizing elections to the PA parliament and setting up a national army dedicated to the struggle against Israel. Hamas prefers to maintain its own military wing in order to restrain the Palestinian Authority’s attempts to prevent it from taking over the PA government.
Al Aksa has strengthened its political power as a faction within Fatah during the run-up to elections to the Palestinian parliament, scheduled for January 2006.
In an interview with the press, one of the senior officers of the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades, Khaled al-Jaaberi, stated that the Palestinian Authority has agreed to absorb 2500 terrorists from the Gaza Strip within the ranks of its security forces. This agreement was reached after prolonged negotiations, during which it was decided that the terrorists would be chosen from every faction within Fatah, including the Abu Raish brigades. Preference would be given for wounded terrorists and “humanitarian cases.”
Over the past few months, the PA security forces have been recruiting Al Aksa members from throughout the authority and Judea, but from northern Samaria in particular.
The Palestinian Authority hopes that this will enable it to deal with the challenges posed by Hamas as the elections approach.
Jaaberi also stated that the armed Fatah brigades are continuing with negotiations to unite the various factions in an “honor guard” that will represent the “resistance” and wage the struggle for “the liberation of the rest of the Palestinian land in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.”
In political terms, the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades are reorganizing to become a strong force within Fatah, with the intent of pushing out the “Old Guard,” replacing them with a “new generation.” Last week, the Brigades did very well in pre-elections within Fatah itself. The leader of the Tanzim, Marwan Barghouti, currently serving five life sentences in an Israeli jail for murder, also made significant gains.
Hamas, on the other hand, continues to present itself as a government alternative. It has denied rumors that it has agreed to allow terrorists from its armed Izzadin al-Kassam brigade to join the PA security forces. Hamas has certain preconditions for this, such as organizing elections to the PA parliament and setting up a national army dedicated to the struggle against Israel. Hamas prefers to maintain its own military wing in order to restrain the Palestinian Authority’s attempts to prevent it from taking over the PA government.