Note: The translations of articles from the Hebrew press are prepared by the Government Press Office as a service to foreign journalists in Israel. They express the views of the authors.
ARAFAT'S SOFT HAND
(Article by Roni Shaked, "Yediot Ahronot", Aug 1, 1997, Shabbat Supplement, pp. 8-9)
ARAFAT'S FORGIVING ATTITUDE HAS BEEN WELL UTILIZED BY HAMAS IN THE PAST MONTHS: ITS POLITICAL POWER HAS INCREASED, ITS INSTITUTIONS HAVE RECEIVED MONEY FROM THE AUTHORITY AND POPULAR SUPPORT FOR IT HAS GROWN. IN ADDITION, MOST OF THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON. AS OF TODAY, THE MOST WANTED FUGITIVE, MOHI A-DIN A-SHARIF, AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER BY PROFESSION, HAS NOT BEEN CAUGHT. MOST TERRORIST ACTIVITY TAKES PLACE IN THE WEST BANK AND NOT IN GAZA: IN NABLUS ALONE, APPROXIMATELY 12 DANGEROUS WANTED FUGITIVES MOVE AROUND; 24 IN RAMALLAH.
As of writing these lines, the two suicide terrorists who blew themselves up in Mahane Yehuda Market have not yet been identified. Even if the leaflet published by the "Iz a-Din al-Kasam" brigade, who claimed responsibility for the attack, is proved to be fake, the assumption of the security establishment is that this was a well planned attack, whose Hamas fingerprints are very clear. The organization has avoided taking responsibility for attacks of this kind, since its leaders have already learned that by doing so they are inviting double pressure from both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Certain clues at the attack site have raised suspicion in the security establishment that the suicide bombers were sent on their mission from "abroad", in other words, by Iran. In any event, there is no doubt that even if this theory is correct, an attack on this scale could not be carried out without the active assistance of Hamas.
Bethlehem, and the little Christian town alongside it to the east, Beit- Sahur, have become Hamas centers in the past few months. Gaza, the cradle of Hamas terrorism, has become difficult for Hamas activists to operate in. To go from there to Israel had become extremely difficult and complex, requiring sophisticated logistics and ideas to cross the Erez Checkpoint or the border fence.
The Palestinian security services have shown more efficiency in Gaza: Fugitives who were not willing to operate according to rules of the game acceptable to the Palestinian Authority were persecuted or thrown in jail. Those who accepted the rules received preferred treatment.
The difficulties of operating from Gaza caused the decision to move to the West Bank. In the wide open spaces there, the ability to hide in Area B under Israeli jurisdiction and the unlimited opportunities to cross the Green Line, it is easier for Hamas to establish its headquarters.
The move to the West Bank took place seven or eight months ago, before the attack on the "Apropo" Cafe in Tel Aviv. Musa Ganimath, a member of the Zureif cell, killed in the "work accident" at "Apropo", trained for his mission in Bethlehem. Signs indicate that the bomb was prepared at the Beit Sahur factory uncovered by Palestinian security services last week. The Zurief cell members received their briefing and instructions from Hamas commanders in Bethlehem, who have not yet been caught.
It is clear today that had the GSS not caught the deadly Zureif cell, they would still be committing acts of murder. During their investigation, a bomb identical to that which exploded at the "Apropo" Cafe was discovered. It was further revealed that the cell members had carried out 11 kidnapping attempts on Israeli soldiers following the kidnapping and murder of the late Sharon Edri.
Who are Hamas' military leaders? Fugitive no. 1 is Mohi a-Din a-Sharif, student of the "Engineer" Yehia Ayash, an electrical engineer by profession. He resided in the Beit Hanina neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem, is considered an expert in preparing bombs, and for this reason, is nicknamed "Engineer no. 2".
A-Sharif is wanted since August 1995, when he participated in the bombing of bus 26 in Jerusalem and an "Egged" bus at the Elite Junction in Ramat Gan. He moves around armed with a pistol, periodically dressed up as a woman. One of the forged identity cards in his possession is in the name "Massoud Julani". He intended to commit suicide in one of the attacks, but in the end he reconsidered. According to various reports, he has hidden alternatively in Jericho, Ramallah and Nablus.
One of "Iz a-Din al-Kassam's" other senior commanders is Zalah el-Talhami, under arrest by the Palestinian security services. Al-Talhami is the man in contact with the headquarters in Syria and Jordan, giving instructions to the organization's members, including Hassan Salameh, who blew up the two number 18 buses in Jerusalem and was sentenced to 46 life-sentences two weeks ago.
Talhami was arrested by the Palestinian Authority, released, and only under Israeli pressure, via the CIA, returned to prison.
Another senior fugitive is Aoud Aoudallah from el-Bireh, thought to be one of the senior military commanders. Both Israel and the Palestinian security services are hunting for him now.
This past year, especially since Hasmonean Tunnel incident, Arafat has almost completely avoided acting against Hamas. He operated only out of obligation, and usually not even that. Arafat released most Hamas prisoners arrested after the large bombings in Jerusalem and Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv in March 1996; improved his relations with Hamas leaders, maintained a continuous dialogue to reach a national agreement; he permitted Hamas to hold mass rallies; permitted the republication of the weekly "al-Rissala", the official Hamas newspaper; appointed Talal Sidar, a Hamas member from Hebron, and was forgiving towards the organization's military members.
In Nablus, for example, approximately 12 Hamas fugitives move around, including some who have carried out attacks in Israel. Ramallah is also a sanctuary city for fugitives; at least 24 are in hiding there. Members of the Zureif cell, held in Hebron prison, have not been sentenced, and one of them had his cell door left open so he could escape. Only after Israeli pressure did he surrender himself and was returned to prison. Rasan Mardawi, a senior Islamic Jihad activist, was in TulKarem until a week ago. He enjoyed complete immunity by the Palestinian Authority, until he was seized in a brilliant operation by the GSS and put in an Israeli prison.
Even the timing of the uncovering of the large Beit Sahur bomb factory was not a surprise. The uncovering occurred two days after the announcement that Razi Jabali, the Palestinian Police Commander, gave the instructions to the police cell that fired on the car of Rabbi Levanon of Elon Moreh. The timing was aimed at saving Jabali's skin.
The security establishment explain that the soft policy towards Hamas percolated to all the Palestinian intelligence and security units. Commanders and subordinates in the field translated this to reduce actions against Hamas.
The soft and easy hand of the "Rais" made the past months a heaven for Hamas. The organization did not waste their time: Its leaders and commanders used it to strengthen their ranks, especially their popular public support. In Nablus, for example, Hamas held a mass wedding for 15 couples of the town three weeks ago. Thousands participated at the event, held according to Islamic traditions, included total segregation of men and women. Hamas leaders, of course, gave speeches.
The organization held a mass rally in Hebron to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. Over 20,000 people participated at the meeting, which became a political demonstration of support for it. A similar demonstration was held in Nablus. Public activity and increased popular power bore fruit in student committee elections. Today, all the West Bank universities are under the control of Hamas dominated student councils. Teacher's and engineer's organizations have also been conquered, and in democratic elections.
Arafat saw what was born, and worried. After Hamas announced that they would participate, he cancelled municipal elections. Israel warned him again and again. Just as he seemed to understand, came the Har Homa crisis.
The security break between the Israeli and Palestinian security services, even though not total, has worked in favor of Israel. It forced the organization to try harder: Uncovering the Zureif cell, for example, led to the arrest of hundreds of Hamas activists, uncovering weapons and explosives, and the capture of active cells which were already beyond the planning stages of attacks.
Since the beginning of the year, over 700 terrorists have been arrested in the West Bank, 460 of them Hamas members, 50 belonging to the Islamic Jihad, and the rest to other organizations, including the PLO.
In Beit Fajar, near Bethlehem, an 80 member Hamas cell was arrested. Dozens of kilograms of explosives were discovered and major terrorist attacks were foiled.
In villages near the trans-Samaria highway, a 17 member Hamas cell was uncovered, whose members had carried out terrorist attacks and were planning more. In Qabatia, in Samaria, a similar cell was arrested, and in Bethlehem Issa Shauki died while preparing a bomb. Several of his accomplices were arrested, bringing about the discovery of the Hamas bomb factory in Beit Sahur.
In between, a large bomb from the Hamas school was placed on the Tel Aviv beach. The GSS, by the way, has not yet solved this case.
"The Beit Sahur factory was only one of many," said a senior security official Wednesday, "I will not be surprised if the Palestinian security services discover more factories like that one. Our working assumption is that they exist."
The attack the day before yesterday at the Mahane Yehuda Market did not come as a surprise, said O.C. Central Command, Major General Uzi Dayan. The GSS collected much information over the past two weeks on Hamas preparation to carry out a terrorist attack. The question was not if there would be an attack, but when and where.
The security establishment waited Wednesday for a Hamas message claiming responsibility. A leaflet was distributed that evening in Ramallah, while another leaflet, addressed to the Israeli government, was sent via the Jerusalem office of the Red Cross. There is some uncertainty at the security services regarding the letters' authenticity. Furthermore, as of the writing of this article, the suicide terrorists identities have not yet been determined.
Wednesday evening, several hours after the murderous attack, the Palestinians showed the first signs of their willingness to cooperate. The blood, Israeli anger, and the furious international reaction made it clear to Arafat that terrorism crosses the line. He declared a State of Emergency in the autonomous areas. His men set out at night on a round of arrests of Hamas activists.
There is not a shadow of doubt in the security establishment that Arafat finally decided to act against Hamas only because the Mahane Yehuda attack pushed him to the wall. The question asked at the security meetings held Wednesday night was how long Arafat would persist in his war against terrorism. And a no less important question: How long will the calm last until the next attack."