Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., December 30, 2007 Tevet 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:14 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades militants holding weapons during a rally in Nablus in January. (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 21:08 29/12/2007 Official says PA dismantling Al-Aqsa and other militant groups By Reuters Tags: Abdel-Razak al-Yahya  The top Palestinian security official said on Saturday his government was dismantling militant groups, including those connected to President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction. Officials said Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades largely agreed to go along with the government's security plan in the West Bank without putting up a fight. "There is no Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades any more," Interior Minister Abdel-Razak al-Yahya told Voice of Palestine radio, referring to Fatah's largest armed group. Advertisement The pledge by Yahya came one day after Palestinian militants killed two Israelis who were hiking near the West Bank city of Hebron. Two of the militants were also killed in an ensuing gunbattle. Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed at a U.S.-sponsored peace conference last month in Annapolis, Maryland to launch negotiations with the goal of reaching a statehood agreement by the end of 2008. But Israel has said it will not implement any agreement until the Palestinians meet their obligations under the long-stalled "road map" peace plan to rein in militants in the West Bank and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Hamas Islamists seized control of Gaza in June after routing Abbas' secular Fatah forces there, but Fatah still holds sway in the West Bank. The Palestinians assert that they are meeting their security obligations in the West Bank by launching a security clampdown in some of the largest cities. After commenting on the dismantling of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Yahya said: "We wish they [other groups] will respond positively and follow al-Aqsa's example." He said Abbas's Western-backed government has started "working to dismantle" other militant groups, though he did not spell out how that would be accomplished. He stopped short of threatening to deploy his forces against those who resist the security clampdown, but he said: "We will impose law and order." Western diplomats say Abbas' forces have taken serious steps in parts of the West Bank to impose law and order, and to crack down on Hamas militants. But the diplomats questioned the government's ability to disarm Fatah militants on a larger scale, noting Al-Aqsa's decentralized command and control structure. A unit of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in the Gaza Strip issued a statement in the Gaza Strip accusing Yahya of being a "collaborator" who follows "American and Zionist masters." "We will pursue Jihad and resistance until we liberate Palestine from the Zionists," the statement said. Hamas bans Gaza anniversary rallies by rival Fatah Tensions between the West Bank government and Palestinian militant groups was evident over the weekend in Gaza as well. Hamas on Saturday declared a ban on public Fatah rallies in a fresh move to tighten their hold on power, but Fatah officials vowed to defy the order and go ahead with planned marches to celebrate the movement's 43rd anniversary next week. The anniversary celebrations are planned to begin on December 31 and to last until January 3. Scores of Fatah student activists were rounded up late Friday inside Gaza City's Al-Azhar university, accused by Hamas of plotting to foment public disorder from inside the Fatah-affiliated institution. Salem al-Rifi, 21, who was held for nine hours, said some 25 other students were detained with him. They were told to sign a pledge not to participate in any Fatah rallies or face jail and a fine. Most of them were released before morning after interrogation and warnings. Al-Rifi said posters, paints, balloons and flags intended for use in Fatah anniversary events were confiscated from the students, along with their mobile phones. "When they arrest us, we become more determined," he said. "It means we are doing something right." When Fatah last staged a mass show of opposition in Gaza, with a rally of 250,000 supporters on November 12, Hamas security men cracked down hard, killing eight marchers and injuring 85. Hamas blamed Fatah for instigating the violence. However, human rights groups and participants in that rally said Hamas used excessive force against the protesters. There were no recorded injuries to Hamas personnel. Fahmi Zaarir, a Fatah spokesman in the West Bank said the movement would hold rallies in Gaza next week, regardless of the latest order. "We will defy Hamas decisions by planning popular activities in all of Gaza," he said. Jamal al-Jarrah, a senior Hamas security official, said the restrictions had been ordered in the interests of public safety. "The ban is to protect civilian lives," al-Jarrah told a Hamas-backed Gaza newspaper. "They (Fatah members) want to kill and terrorize citizens in such rallies." Related articles: Poll: Support for Hamas stable despite worsening conditions in Gaza Meshal welcomes Saudi bid to broker Hamas-Fatah talks Gaza rights groups: Hamas' seizure of legal system unlawful Bookmark to del.icio.us Santa's helpers Foreign workers hope for citizenship for Christmas. He's ba-ack In a new audio tape Bin Laden vows to free Palestine.   1.   Good start, let Israel dismantle its Army and Settlers 14:12  |  El-Birawi 29/12/07   2.   I`m not holding my breath! 14:25  |  Marabu 29/12/07   3.   Meaningless gestures 14:40  |  Natallie Durson 29/12/07   4.   A name can be discarded but behavior will not change 15:47  |  Avi 29/12/07   5.   "...until we liberate Palestine from the Zionists." 15:48  |  akiva (zionist) 29/12/07   6.   This solves nothing! 15:54  |  Awake 29/12/07   7.   looney bin 15:58  |  real vision 29/12/07   8.   "It is the revolutionaries, not the occupation, who have the righ 16:18  |  Muhammad Shahada 29/12/07   9.   #1 - the most ridiculous thing I`ve ever read 16:42  |  Steve 29/12/07   10.   #1 El-Birawi, Are you writng from Chelm, twon of the stupid 17:30  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 29/12/07   11.   Dismantle Natalie Burston 17:53  |  Zionism Forever 29/12/07   12.   Yeah,right 18:03  |  Nemesis 29/12/07   13.   11. math lesson for limited zionist 18:06  |  math 29/12/07   14.   #3 Durson is meaningless 18:07  |  Moshiach ben Yosef 29/12/07   15.   P.A. Terrorists Murder Israeli Hikers 18:17  |  Murray 29/12/07   16.   The PA will perform even more miracles for the press 18:20  |  JB 29/12/07   17.   Al-Aqsa terrorists (not militants) are probably on paid leave. 18:23  |  JB 29/12/07   18.   14. until Palestine has justice zion will be called to account 18:43  |  citizen of world 29/12/07   19.   Good news for palestinians if they did stop the rallies 18:43  |  Voice of Reason 29/12/07   20.   i also bieve in little green men from mars 1 18:47  |  victor hardman 29/12/07   21.   18 Citizen, but why not start in your backyard? 18:58  |  Uday 29/12/07   22.   20. victor softman refugee joo in belfast 19:05  |  muslim 29/12/07   23.   hamas 19:06  |  dukecarl 29/12/07   24.   21. helful zio uday pointing fingers in all directions 19:06  |  citizen of world 29/12/07   25.   13History lesson: Alexander the Great and Persian Empire. 19:12  |  History 29/12/07   26.   Citizen and Muslim - obviously same one 19:26  |  Bennie 29/12/07   27.   Citizen - what makes you think I am jewish, not muslim? 19:27  |  Uday 29/12/07   28.   awake 6 19:30  |  realism 29/12/07   29.   #22..muslim 19:37  |  Nemesis 29/12/07   30.   27. uday says she is NOT jooooish? 19:47  |  citizen of world 29/12/07   31.   29. and why should that consern you nemesis for zion? 19:49  |  muslim 29/12/07   32.   It proves that all the talks about releasing terrorists is nonsen 19:55  |  Genuine Tosefta 29/12/07   33.   why hamas bans fateh celebration 20:02  |  moadh hamet 29/12/07   34.   33. Asalaamu Alykum Akhi 20:16  |  muslim 29/12/07   35.   muslim#31..I couldn`t care less where you live.. 20:19  |  Nemesis 29/12/07   36.   Realism #28 20:23  |  Awake 29/12/07   37.   PA`s revolving doors policy 20:50  |  eddie 29/12/07   38.   Disbanding Al Aqsa Brigades? 20:52  |  Rav Harley 29/12/07   39.   Al-Aqsa"we will not dismantle" 20:55  |  sam 29/12/07   40.   2 terrorists were killed yesterday 21:00  |  Palestinian 29/12/07   41.   No kidding 21:38  |  Frank 29/12/07   42.   35. nemisis of zion 21:47  |  muslim 29/12/07   43.   "dismantling" is not "dismantled"... 23:09  |  dav zee 29/12/07   44.   #40: Who`s to blame? 23:14  |  Richard S 29/12/07   45.   #22 muslim knows f all but makes stupid comments 23:33  |  victor hardman 29/12/07   46.   #42..muslim 23:35  |  Nemesis 29/12/07   47.   Why should Israel release terrorists then? 23:55  |  KUTW 29/12/07   48.   awake 36 07:29  |  realism 30/12/07

Today Online 2 Israelis killed, one hurt in W. Bank shooting attack Responses: 594 Benn, Rosner: Israel needs a 'Rice bypass road' to White House Responses: 183 PM to Abbas: Israel will not undermine peace efforts Responses: 120 Akiva Eldar: Peace deal must start with prisoner release Responses: 126 IDF kills former PA premier's bodyguard during W. Bank raid Responses: 102 New version of old defense group guards Jewish farmlands Responses: 62 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Mailbox: Why should Ron Paul care about Israel? The blog and the Jews (WTR) An exacerbated tension between Olmert and Rice Poll: The most likely event to happen in 2008 More Headlines 07:27 PM plans to halt E. J'lem tenders, okay Har Homa 04:34 Soldiers killed on hike in West Bank eulogized for courage 07:41 ANALYSIS / Nipping new W. Bank Jewish terror group in the bud 05:55 UNIFIL steps up supervision to deter Hezbollah re-armament 07:47 Tamir asks court to delay ruling on Haredi schools' curriculum 04:31 Bin Laden vows in Web audiotape he will 'expand jihad in Palestine' 07:56 Pinpointed IAF attacks on Gaza more precise, hurt fewer civilians 05:15 Pakistan rejects foreign assistance in Bhutto assassination probe 06:36 Women in Black marks 20th year, but occupation continues 05:29 Gov't: 5,000 people have entered Israel illegally from Sinai in 2007 Previous Editions Select Day 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec

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