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Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh
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| By Israel Insider staff August 20, 2007 |
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Hamas has managed to renew activity in the West Bank and create new, armed cells in several cities, according to the Jerusalem Post. Despite efforts by Palestinian Authority security forces, Hamas' armed wing, Izzadin Kassam, has become "very active" in certain areas in the West Bank, specifically in Nablus.
"We are very worried about what's happening in the West Bank, especially in Nablus, where Izzadin Kassam appears to have resumed its activities after a long lull," the paper quoted a PA security official as saying. "In recent weeks the group has been launching almost daily attacks on Israeli military patrols... particularly in the northern West Bank."
There have also been unconfirmed reports that Hamas and Fatah recently conducted secret talks in Damascus in an effort to reunite the rival factions.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has repeatedly warned PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that any attempt to repair relations with Hamas would halt the current peace process between the PA and Israel.
Olmert recently pardoned some 178 Fatah fugitives and released 250 prisoners from jail in a bid to strengthen Abbas. The chairman vowed on numerous occasions not to renew talks with Hamas, despite reports of meetings held in secret.
Since Hamas' putsch in Gaza, PA security forces have detained nearly 200 Hamas activists in the West Bank, but most of the suspected militants in custody are not linked to Izzadin Kassam.
"We are going after the wrong guys," the official said. "We are detaining journalists, university students and low-level political operatives. Meanwhile, Izzadin Kassam is establishing secret cells and acquiring more weapons."
Meanwhile, PA officials have reported suspected collusion between some Fatah gunmen and Hamas militants in the West Bank.
"Some of the Hamas men have been receiving assistance from Fatah gunmen and this is very worrying," a security commander said.
Abbas officials are afraid that Hamas is creating an executive force in the West Bank as a preliminary step to overthrowing the PA government. If Hamas succeeds in overthrowing Abbas, all recent diplomatic progress towards a Palestinian state would be undermined.
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