By David Bedein
July 8, 2005
In recent weeks, American, British and Israeli intelligence sources have revealed that al-Qaida units now operate in the southern section of Gaza, and are positioned to take over the area that Israel Defense Forces would vacate, if the proposed retreat plan is indeed carried out by the Israeli government.
Called Jundallah (Allah's Brigades), this lethal group consists mostly of scores of disgruntled former Hamas and Islamic Jihad members who say that their former organizations have become too "pragmatic" and "moderate."
Jundallah's spokesman, Abu Abdallah al-Khattab, talks about the targeting of U.S. interests in the region: "Our people will not remain idle in the face of American crimes in Muslim countries... it is our duty to respond... the blood of Muslims is not cheap..."
The emergence of Al-Quaida in Gaza comes on the heels of a formal statement issued by U.S. Presidential envoy, General William Ward, that the Palestinian Authority has no intent whatsoever of crushing terrorism.
Since there is a clear policy directive of the U.S., as outlined by the president in numerous policy statements, that terrorists must be defeated before they can inflict harm on U.S. personnel and U.S. interests, the question remains: Should the US support and encourage the pullout of Israeli forces from the Gaza and Northern Samarian region, where al-Qaida
and other groups such as Hamas are currently positioned?
The time has come for the U.S. Congress to examine clear and straightforward information regarding all of the security issues involved in the proposed pullout of Israeli troops and civilians from regions that would most certainly become terror bases that could threaten Western interests and not only US security concerns.
Carefully documented information is critical if the fight is to be well fought, and if U.S. interests are to be protected.
It would be most appropriate for the U.S. Congress to reconsider support for Israel's proposed hand-over of Gaza and the Northern Samaria to organizations defined by the American government as terrorists... before Israel is mistakenly encouraged by America to facilitate the creation of a PLO Islamic State, which would represent a threat not only to Israel, but to all US and Western interests as well.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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