No doubt it is to keep up with the spirit of unity that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh calls on all Arabs within Israel and the territories to rally at Al Aqsa Mosque in order to prevent repairs and maintenance work from being done on the Temple Mount by the Israelis.
The rally leads to the arrest of 11 for stone throwing but mostly it’s a poor showing.
Islamic Jihad tries to prop up the protest by claiming the kassams fired into Israel today were in retaliation for the work being done by the Israelis on the Temple Mount. Lame, so very lame.
But really, the most interesting story is this Ynet News report:
Abbas' Special Forces, which raided Hamas' stronghold last weekend, were looking not only for arms but also for any lead on kidnapped Israeli. Palestinian sources say Shalit was held at university for most of his time in captivity but was relocated in mid-October
Kidnapped soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit spent most of his time in captivity imprisoned on the campus of the Islamic University in Gaza, said senior Palestinian sources on Monday. Shalit was kidnapped on June 25th 2006 and up until three months ago had been held at the university – a prominent Hamas stronghold – but arguments amongst his captors led to his relocation.
The Islamic University is under complete Hamas control, with faculty members and students alike all loyal to the organization. Within its walls there are not only regular academic studies but also military training and religious preaching.
Palestinian officials have labeled the university a "sanctuary for wanted men" and they note that Hamas mastermind Yahya Ayyash fled from the West Bank to Gaza in 1995 and hid in the Islamic University for several months during the time he was being pursued by Israeli forces for his role in numerous suicide bombings in the 90's.
Ayyash and other wanted Hamas members took advantage of the fact that none but Hamas loyalists set foot in the university. That changed last Thursday when troops from Fatah's Force 17 raided the university campus, confiscating some 2,000 AK-47 assault rifles, hundreds of RPG launchers and massive amounts of ammunition.
Fatah troops also uncovered a tunnel opening leading all the way to the Palestinian Police headquarters in Gaza City. Estimates suggest Hamas had intended to fill the tunnel with explosives and destroy the police building. Palestinian sources say that during the raid forces also tried to find any clues which may lead them to the location of Shalit.
First there were rumors of Fatah capturing Iranians (including one possible Iranian General) at this Hamas University late last week. Now there is claim that the university harbored an IDF captive. I really don't have to strain too hard to imagine what core curriculum first year students studied –tunnel digging & maintenance, chemical engineering, rocket science…and for the liberal art students; Blood Libel 101.
No comments:
Post a Comment