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| Israel-Palestine |
| Arrest reveals al-Qaeda activities in Israel |
| 2005-09-11 |
| Fears that Al-Qaeda terrorists have reached Israel were confirmed with the arrest of a gang member north of Be'er Sheva, despite government denials that Bin Laden has created cells in Israel. Security officials arrested the 26-year-old man in the village of Dahariya, between Be'er Sheva and Hevron. A new book, published in the London-based Al-Quds newspaper, states that the terrorist organization is on the eve of a new phase in a campaign that will end with "a frontal attack on Israel." Former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon said in March 2002 that the Al Qaeda terrorist group was giving orders to Arab terrorists in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. He told reporters that Israel had prevented several attempts by Al Qaeda terrorists to enter Israel. Israeli intelligence and military officials have played down the possibility that terrorist operatives of the Osama Bin-Laden gang are in Israel, but the arrest of the Dahariya operative, Mahmoud Waridat, reveals there are contacts with terrorists in Israel. Army prosecutors said Waridat was trained at an Al Qaeda terrorist camp in Afghanistan but declined an invitation to join Bin Laden's terror network. He learned to make small arms and bombs at the training camp. Speculation on Al-Qaeda's infiltration into Israel was sparked in the 2002 attack on an Israeli-owned hotel and an attempt to shoot down an Israeli airline in Kenya. Last month, Al Qaeda claimed it was behind a "debut operation in Jordan" when terrorists attacked Eilat with a Katusha rocket. Other claims of terrorist gangs linked to Al Qaeda have appeared in Gaza. A new book entitled "Al-Zarqawi--Al Qaeda's Second Generation" details the world-wide terrorist organization's master plan. The author, Fuad Hussein, states that Al Qaeda has completed its first "awakening" phase that was highlighted by the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The second phase, which began in 2003 and is to end next year, is aimed at showing Moslems that the United States is abusing Arab countries. The third phase of "rebirth" is projected to last from 2007-2010 and will concentrate on Syria, Jordan and Israel. ''This phase takes into account the current attacks led by Americans, Europeans and Jews against Syria. The battle will shift to Syria as al-Qaeda will start a frontal attack on Israel'," Hussein wrote. The "final victory" will follow with a war against Arab leaders, the creation of a new Arab country and all-out war, concluding with the destruction of Israel. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |