• Published 04:31 11.02.10
  • Latest update 12:28 11.02.10

Soldier's murder was latest in trend of terror by PA security

Majority of fatal attacks against Israelis in W. Bank in recent years carried out by PA security forces members.

By Avi Issacharoff Tags: Salam Fayyad Israel news IDF

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Wednesday condemned the stabbing of an IDF soldier at the Tapuah checkpoint by a Palestinian police officer.

It is hard not to appreciate the political courage summoned by Fayyad Wednesday in condemning the killing of an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint in the occupied territories.

But Fayyad apparently realizes that to maintain his extraordinary cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces in the West Bank, he needs to compromise on his dignity, even if at a hefty political price.

However, one emerging trend is difficult to ignore. Most of the fatal attacks in the West Bank in recent years were carried out by members of Palestinian security forces.

Two months ago there was the murder of Rabbi Meir Chai, near the settlement of Shavei Shomron, by three Fatah men, one of them a member of the West Bank counterintelligence service.

In November 2007, three Palestinian policemen murdered settler Ido Zoldan, also from Shavei Shomron. A month later, two members of the Palestinian general intelligence service murdered two Israeli soldiers from Kiryat Arba, who were hiking near the village of Tarkumia.

These attacks create quite a dilemma for Israeli security organizations. On the one hand, the Palestinian Authority is combating Hamas and Islamic Jihad, often demonstrating a surprising ability to counter the Islamist terrorist threats. But the same PA neglects its own men, including former members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade and security service men.

Moreover, there is increasing anti-Israel incitement by the PA, which comes not only from third-rate politicians, but also from very senior officials. Only a few weeks ago, a senior PA official took part in the dedication of a square to Dalal al-Moughrabi, who took part in the Coastal Road Massacre in 1978 and murdered children with her own hands, and in January a sermon calling for the murder of Jews was broadcast by Palestinian television.

Fayyad and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, while far from encouraging terrorism, do support the "popular resistance" of the Bi'lin and Na'ilin model, in effect, endorsing stone-throwing. Fayyad himself "only" took part in burning settlement produce, while he and his government engage in setting up preposterous investigative committees to look into allegations of organ thefts by Israeli soldiers. The message trickles down to the lower ranks and can often be misunderstood. In view of the stalemate in negotiations, it's not hard to guess why settlers and soldiers are perceived as legitimate targets.

This doesn't make the dilemma any less acute for the Israelis in view of the "miracle" performed by Abbas and Fayyad in the West Bank. Thousands of words have been written about its Palestinian cities, the burgeoning economy and the war on radical Islam. The Palestinian stock exchange went up by 12 percent in 2009 and an even steeper climb is expected in the coming year. Construction of a new Palestinian city began north of Bir Zeit two years ago, and the PA is planning another one north of Jericho, to be named Kamar, Arabic for moon.

Fayyad, a Washington favorite, is showing results time and again of just how much he is a man of action, unlike his other Palestinian colleagues. He doesn't focus on personal interest, he's clean of any taint of corruption and the rare vision of a Palestinian state he bears is being implemented on the ground. It's precisely that one Palestinian policeman who decides to carry out an attack that might frustrate his plans.

Fayyad's troubles were compounded last night with a Channel 10 expose showing Abbas' chief of staff, Rafiq Al Husseini, trying to coax a woman into sleeping with him. The incidentwas revealed by Fahmi Shabana, former director of the general intelligence service in Hebron. Ironically, this man, who a year ago was arrested by the Israel Police for recruiting agents, was also the man who arrested the two terrorists from the Tarkumia attack. Wednesday, he became Abbas and Fayyad's latest and biggest headache.

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  • 21. 0 0
    language
    • achiya
    • 13.02.10
    • 23:31

    not much can change unless our language about each other changes.Murder is yet another expression of hate language.it takes courage to speak well of an enemy because one day such an enemy will be our friend and neighbour. let's praise the actions of the PA when visible and work to bring to justice murderers. Palestinians will have security when they apply the rule of law not tribal sets of rules that hinder that which all human cherish, family, prosperity and knowing that G-d directs the affairs of men.

  • 20. 0 0
    Brilliant observations Ms. Durson!
    • Wm.N
    • 11.02.10
    • 19:22

    In 600 simple words you knocked the spots off what's going to be center piece of the 'problems' yet to come for Zionists occupation of Palistine. "PA security stooges of a stooge of their stooge" ... Wow! Your summary should be required reading.

  • 19. 0 0
    speaking of terrorism==lets look at former PM,S
    • lABHRAS
    • 11.02.10
    • 18:00

    Below is a short list of terror carried out by Jewish terrorists. If killing an Israeli soldier who is enforcing the occupation---then Jews killing brit soldiers must also be terrorists. Or are there different rules for Jewish terrorists. HMMMMM. " 1947: A Year of Terror Jan. 12?Four killed by Irgun terrorist bombing of British headquarters. Jan. 13?Arab kidnapped and castrated by Jewish terrorists. March 1?Sixteen Britons killed by Jewish terrorists/Britain invokes martial law March 10?Jewish informer killed by Jewish terrorists. March 11?Two British soldiers killed by Jewish terrorists. April 8?British constable killed by Jewish terrorists. April 8?Jewish boy killed by British troops. April 8?Jew beaten to death by Arabs. April 22?Eight killed in Jewish terrorist bombing of the Cairo-Haifa train. April 25?Five killed in Jewish terrorist bombing of British camp. April 26?British police official killed by Jewish terrorist. May 8?Three Jewish shops in Tel Aviv whose owners refused to contribute to Jewish terrorist groups burned down by Jewish terrorists. May 8?Jew killed near Tel Aviv by Arab terrorists. May 12?Two British policemen killed in Jewish Jerusalem. May 15?British policeman killed in terrorist ambush. May 15?Two British soldiers killed in terrorist Stern Gang attack. May 16?Two British police officers killed by terrorists. May 18?One Jew killed, one wounded by Arab terrorists. June 5?Jewish terrorists introduce letter bombs in Middle East. June 28?Four British soldiers killed in Jewish terrorist raids. July 3??Anti-terrorist? Jewish families beaten up by Irgunists. July 18?British soldier killed by Jewish terrorists. July 19?Another British soldier killed by Jewish terrorists. July 20?Yet another British soldier killed by Jewish terrorists. July 23?65 Jews killed when Haganah sinks immigration ship. July 26?Two British soldiers killed in booby trap. July 29?Three Jews executed by hanging. Jewish terrorists retaliate by hanging two British soldiers.

  • 18. 0 0
    Political Courage? No - just another Arafat!
    • Sceptic
    • 11.02.10
    • 16:29

    Following Oslo, after every deadly Arab terrorist bombing of Israelis, Arafat would say to the International Press that he condemned the attack. But in Arabic to his people he would urge them to continue the use of violent Jihad to drive out the Israelis. Don't let Salam Fayyad's cunning words fool anyone. Those words don't mean anything. What are his actions to stop the killings? Shoom Davar!

  • 17. 0 0
    Arabian Jew Hey, read UNSC Res 1860..then
    • CJ
    • 11.02.10
    • 15:49

    stop talking garbage.. "And people like Durson just can`t fathom the fact that Jews and Arabs are related" Some, but tell that to Chinese, Japanese, Inuit, Jews. Tell it to convert Jews. "..and that most of Palestine is in fact in Jordan." Jordan is Jordan, only the Palestinians who lived where Jordan is now had a right to citizenship. What was left of the non-state entity of Palestine in 1946, was called PALESTINE. When Israel was carved off in 1948, what was left is still called PALESTINE. "These simple facts just blow away anti-Israel "grievance", which mainly stem from ancient, inherited mass Jew-hate" Pity that 1) Neither is a fact. 2) The actual facts stem from history of 1946 & 1948. 3) The actual facts don't="Jew-hate".

  • 16. 0 0
    Durson's Grievance
    • Bobby G
    • 11.02.10
    • 15:37

    Let me clue you in, Durson. Every soldier in the IDF has a grievance against the Arabs. Every soldier has been affected by a family member or friend that has been murdered or wounded by a terror attack. Israelis have grievances from Arab evil stretching to the Moon.

  • 15. 0 0
    Gaza
    • Mountaingirl
    • 11.02.10
    • 14:53

    Since ending occupation in Gaza rockets into Israel haven't stopped flying, even now. Why then should Israeli's beleive all acts of war against Israel from the WB would stop the moment Israel would draw back behind the green lines? By the way - before the 6-day war, wich started after Israel was on the brink of being attacked by Egypt who sent away the UN forces at it's border with Israel there were acts of terror too. It's not about territory, it's about the fact that a non-islamic nation exists in the middle of Arab states.

  • 14. 0 0
    Gen Dayton did warn about this
    • r cummings
    • 11.02.10
    • 13:46

    Each PA recruit is vetted by US security forces, Shin Bet and Jordanian Intelligence before they begin training, so this looks like an isolated incident. There is a deeper problem which Dayton warned about last year. He said the new troops can only be strung along for so long, there is a two-year shelf life on telling them they're creating a state, when they're patently not. As he's been training them for 3 years, I guess that point approaches. They are told they will be a cornerstone of the new Pal state and they are happy and proud about that. But many Pals and family member see them as just Israeli stooges and, as the months pass and Israel drags its feet, keeps on settling and blocks an independent Palestine, disillusion must set in. This is foolish by Israel. These are state troops, not Fatah political ones. They didn't sign up to be bantustan police at Israel's beck and call. If they start leaving and going over to Hamas, Israel has only itself and its intransigence to blame.

  • 13. 0 0
    The WB is occupied?
    • Arabian Jew
    • 11.02.10
    • 13:42

    It is occupied mainly by stones, bush, foxes and gazelles. Most Arabs there hardly even see IDF troops, who hardly ever enter their towns. And most Arab towns - by very far - are left completely alone by the IDF for years - for decades, in fact. This "brutal occupation" theme folks scream here is mainly a big fat load of crap. You don't have to believe me of course. Just spend time in the WB and see for yourselves! And people like Durson just can't fathom the fact that Jews and Arabs are related, that Jews claim under 1/10th of 1% of the MidEast, and that most of Palestine is in fact in Jordan. These simple facts just blow away anti-Israel "grievance", which mainly stem from ancient, inherited mass Jew-hate.

  • 12. 0 0
    #7 Exactly so, Mark
    • Johnboy
    • 11.02.10
    • 12:56

    How on Earth can the killing of a soldier on active duty with an army of occupation be "terrorism"? Murder? Yes. Criminal? Yeah. Foolish? Sure. Counter-productive? Certainly. But "terror! terror! terror!"???? No, not unless you want to claim that your soldiers are really just "civilians in uniform". Oh, yeah, and that your soldiers can be "terrorized". Honestly, if this is "terror" then the word has ceased to have meaning.

  • 11. 0 0
    Strange
    • Sam Soul
    • 11.02.10
    • 12:19

    Strange how israelis and some of the rest of the world are so surprised. They do realize that the palestinian territories are under military occupation and that the presence of a soldier (sympbolizing occupation) is in itself an act of war ? or do they live in a fantasy world pretending the palestinians just want to murder them simply because "it's in their blood" !! History tells us that ANY people under occupation will act the same way. Or is it that israelis think that the WB belong to them and they can act the way they want ?

  • 10. 0 0
    the West bank is occupied
    • Agnes
    • 11.02.10
    • 12:03

    Violence has to be rejected by all means, but this took place in occupied palestinian land. One cannot reasonnably expect people to like soldiers who are occupying their land.

  • 9. 0 0
    IF
    • NYC Guy
    • 11.02.10
    • 11:48

    If he wasn't there in the first place that wouldnt have happened. Why dont you leave those people alone? Get out and free palestine!

  • 8. 0 0
    ocupation
    • freeman
    • 11.02.10
    • 11:04

    but why? have you lived under occupation?

  • 7. 0 0
    Horse Puckey
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 11.02.10
    • 10:57

    Unfortunately as it was, your soldier was engaged in an ACT of WAR, i.e. occupation. Sometimes when you make war on people they make war back. Not all acts of war are smart. The man making war back did no good for his own people. Honor your soldier's service. Stop dishonoring his death by falsely claiming it as an act of terrorism. He died enforcing his own country's policies.

  • 6. 0 0
    It's the incitement
    • As'ad (Angry Arab)
    • 11.02.10
    • 09:10

    As a lebanese national, I know exactly what led this officer to kill the Israeli soldier. He must have been watching Palestine TV or reading one of the Ramallah newspapers funded by the US and EU. (Thanks Olivia)

  • 5. 0 0
    An element of risk for all stooges as well as principals
    • Natallie Durson
    • 11.02.10
    • 07:24

    When Hamas was elected by the Palestinian people in their last election, Israel embraced Abbas and made him their stooge. After Israel contrived to arrest the Hamas government in order to place leadership into the hands of their stooge, Abbas appointed Fayed to be his stooge. PA security works for Fayed. In the eyes of Israelis this makes PA security stooges of a stooge of their stooge. Sounds safe, right? Far from right. All Palestinians have a built in grievance against Israeli Jews. This is a lifetime grievance and it is inherited by their children and their childrens children. Becoming a member of PA security doesn't erase this grievance. it just puts them in a position to do something about it. In cases where Druze are killed while acting as Israeli stooges, that's the breaks. If the Druze aspire to become second rate Israeli citizens, the IDF is the way to go. Obviously, there is an element of risk in this path.

  • 4. 0 0
    Good ole PA-they're all about peace...riiiight!
    • Mark
    • 11.02.10
    • 06:48

    But the real threat (according to the looney tunes left in Israel) is the settler movement! Why not let the settlers patrol parts of the West Bank-they know how to handle those "brothers of peace." My heart goes out to the parents of the soldier who died....it'll continue until Israelis take the arab threat seriously and I mean, seriously. How about Iran? Does Israel take Iran seriously...I certainly hope so. Though the soldier was a Druze and I don't know their traditions, May his soul have an easy ascent!

  • 3. 0 0
    Fatah have always been the ones killing Jews in J & S
    • Wonderer
    • 11.02.10
    • 06:23

    This is not something new its just been ignored for the past decade. What about during Annapolis when an Israel was killed in the shtachim? Fatah have killed more Israelis then Hamas.

  • 2. 0 0
    Sounds like a rogue state op
    • John
    • 11.02.10
    • 05:50

    Mmmmm i wonder what rogue state does this kind of thing??

  • 1. 0 0
    Blah, blah, blah....
    • Other View
    • 11.02.10
    • 04:42

    We can talk for ever about who to blame and what to do. End the occupation or let it be a one state for all.