PA releases dozens of Hamas-linked detainees despite rising tensions
Hamas accuses PA of acting as 'protector of enemy's security' for arresting suspected Hamas terror perpetrators.
By Jack Khoury Tags: Fatah Hamas Palestinian Authority West BankThe Palestinian Authority released from detention dozens of Hamas operatives and political activists affiliated with the organization at the behest of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas overnight Wednesday.
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Hamas security officials using batons to detain Fatah supporters during clashes in Gaza City on Sept. 7, 2007. |
| Photo by: AP |
The Palestinian Authority said in a statement that the decision to release the detainees was a gesture marking the Muslim holiday of Eid el Fitr which ends the holy month of Ramadan.
Palestinian Authority security forces arrested several hundred Hamas-linked operatives across the West Bank following two back-to-back shooting attacks against Israelis last week. Four Israelis were killed last Tuesday and two Israelis were wounded the following day when assailants opened fire on their vehicles in the West Bank. Hamas claimed responsibility for both attacks.
On Wednesday, Hamas warned the PA to stop arresting its operatives, or "we will strike."
The decision to release the detainees was made Thursday against the backdrop of remarks by Fatah spokesman in the West Bank Asaf Shamer, who said that "Hamas' threats to harm the Palestinian Authority's security apparatus in the West Bank indicates that the organization seeks to complete the coup it began in the Gaza Strip." Shamer was referring to the violent coup staged by Hamas in 2007, during which the Islamist group drove Fatah out of the territory and violently seized control.
It appears that the open hostility between rival factions Hamas and Abbas' Fatah is on the rise, in light of remarks made by both sides. Earlier Thursday, Hamas accused Fatah of betraying the Palestinian people by arresting a cell of Hamas operatives who carried out the deadly shooting attack last week.
"The bragging over the arrest of the perpetrators of the shooting attack in Beit Hagai confirms Fatah authorities' dangerous role as the protectors of the enemy's security," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Thursday. He added that the arrests carried out by the PA "represent a crossing of all the red lines, and represent a blatant cooperation with the enemy in broad daylight."
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Hamas broke the law and instituted a coup in Gaza a couple of years back. They interpreted an narrow victory in a parllimentary election as a mandate to violently kill or kick out their opponents and put in place a dictatorship. Fatah and the PA still have a great deal of scores to settle with Hamas. Arresting a few members is a start
Abbas also knows that Israel is the real enemy of the Palestinians. In the past, Abbas has cooperated with Israel, but the relationship fell apart when Israel did not deliver on promises they made to him.
How could the PA arrest 100s of Palestinians? What are the charges? Abbas and his crew is yet another oppressive regime that will end up like Saddam Hussain.
...that's a pity....but at least I, for one, don't fall anymore for this silly "friendly" peace in the making..... And my response, now, is 180 degrees opposite, from what I intended before reading this article....enough with naivete! The West Bank is a hornets' nest....
'So is this repeat of Revolving door policy exercised by the PA in the past? PA would arrest terror suspects in order to appease the international community and Israel,but then either release them or facilitate their escape, by moving them to very comfortable conditions
Why am I not surprised...abbas the partner for peace is nothing but a sham..a shield for terrorists..a liar and a distorter and the American administration,which is made up of silly useful idiots,eats up all of his lying rhetoric. Israel wake up... you are not playing on a fair field. The chips are stacked against you so stay cool...don't negotiate with this fraud and wait until the U.S.wakes up and puts in a new administration. Tomorrow the news will say that the 2 murderers caught by the p.a. escaped and the west will believe it. Israel take care of business..you know how and we depend on you to do it.
whats good for the goose is good for the gander
It shoows that the arrests were meaningless. The IDF should do everything to catch the killers and protect Israel. Everything else is nonsense
we really want peace, the psoblem is that we are stupid so we act stupid.
Releasing dozens is not enough. After last week's shooting hundreds were arrested and only a few people may have been involved.
They hear Hamas and their blind hatred takes over. Toss common sense and basic reading requirements out the window when dealing with some posters here that will always be hell bent one way or another.
Did anyone read or hear Fidel Castros remarks. We are a unified world hate of one person race limits us in advancement of soul ideas and world peace. We cannot function together with false ideals of hate. The man is a diplomatic genuis and knows what hate is and his view is a different view all together. You should read him. Please listen to what he has to say as his wisdom grows with his age. My grief is we have lost so many great minds to age where he is still sharp and beautiful of grace. I have seen this man dream of worlds for children and his people. I have heard him cry over a child in rage because they could not be saved. Every nations leaders have great minds and have dreams what are peace dreams from every nation you know of. They can create a life for their people out of nothing but rocks and dirt for the future. We should honor this man with his ideals as well. Thank God for Mr. Castro. We have missed your insight. Karoon
If he wasn't at deaths dorr he would still be spewing the same old crap.He's hoping to save his soul which i doubt will happen.Enjoy hades castro it's where you belong
Mind yourselves... I'm very fund of Fidel's dedication to give free health care and education to its people. And although he vehemently opposes Israel's apartheid politics, he can make a distinct difference between the Holocaust and Israel present-day crimes... Yet, that kind of nuance is not present in some of the West's "Democratic Leaders"... EITHER YOU ARE WITH US, OR WITH THE TERRORISTS!!!
Israel will have to arrest the hamas members and keep them incarcerated for a very long time.
The revised Basic Law that Sharon & Bush wrote and forced on Arafat and the PA doesn't provide for Administrative detention or preventive detention. Only for after the fact criminal detention.
The Palestinian Authority released from detention dozens of Hamas operatives and political activists affiliated with the organization
how the hell can you join someone which is strongly against the idea you try to join him?? hamas has declared last week they are against the direct peace talks and allready launched attacks against israelis in order to subotage the talks. your statement is totaly unrelated to reality.
The Palestinian Authority said in a statement that the decision to release the detainees as a gesture marking the Muslim holiday of Eid el Fitr which ends the holy month of Ramadan.
how can you negotiate with enemy who have only one goal - your death. what do you ask them not to kill me or postpone my death. as i understand only one side can live hamas or israel.if israel do not destroy hamas, it will be destroyed by hamas.
where they kill with impunity and do not expect their men to be arested and when laws are enforced against them they go crazy and threaten to break more laws to set things right. ham,as is made up of malcontents who were promised much and got little from their leaders. It is too bad it is so intransigent as it has placed teh welfare of gazans on teh back burner while it goes about destroying everything it touches. hamas are real bad boys dontcha know.
but do it non violently. Israel is lost when confronted with non violence. The world is now watching Israel.
oooooooooo bigot boy from ireland... a coward from ireland..... ooooo scarey bigot labhras... go drink a guiness and eat a potato
Under Islamic law, non-Muslim countries are never equal to Muslim countries and actually their sovereignty as a non-Muslim nation must always be challenged by Islamic jihad. Islamic law codified jihad as a permanent war with non-Muslims to establish the religion. Muslims thus have to use Taquiyya, lies, to legitimize their aggression on Israel and the West. That is why Muslim countries can never abandon the constant hate propaganda, lies and misinformation about Israel and the West. If that ends, their jihad ends. The UN must be constantly bombarded by complaints from Arab countries against Israel. The Arab street must be constantly bombarded with ridiculous accusations and Zionist conspiracies. Lately on Syrian TV a Syrian intellectual accused Israel of stealing human organs in Haiti while they were helping them after the earthquake. This is not something new; it started in the 7th century, when the prophet Mohammed accused the Jews of treason to justify killing and expelling them and taking over their wealth.
What does "Israel is lost when confronted with non violence" actually mean? Basically, you're admitting that Israel would never do in Gaza what Assad father did in Hama. Think for a moment, Irishman, think..
Unfortunately your Hamas brothers cannot do anything non-violently.
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=187533
As the Shin Bet does, the PA Security forces arrested many potential suspects right after the incidents. They keep those found to actually be involved under arrest, and release the others. Nothing strange here. Congratulations on catching those involved in one of the incidents. Now what about those involved in the killing near Hebron?
Tried and true tacktics from Arafat times.
What part of 'several hundred arrested' and 'dozens released' didn't you understand? Just because one is affiliated with Hamas, doesn't prove guilt. The PA was right to release them but not for what they claim 'as a gesture to end the holy holiday'.