Hamas Exploiting Ceasefire To Train Waves Of New Soldiers In Former Jewish Settlements, Synagogues (Plus: Fatah’s Al Qaeda Intifada?)

International Arab dailies are openly bragging about it:

Since the calm agreement between Israel and Hamas came into play, it has been clearly evident that Palestinian resistance factions, without exception, have taken advantage of the ceasefire by conducting military training for their recruits… The al-Qassam Brigades have recently announced on several occasions the graduation of new groups of fighters. While a number of other military Palestinian factions have set up training sites in former Jewish settlements. These sites are regarded as the best environment for conducting military training because they are uninhabited, have sandy hills, and are very close to the seacoast… The calm [with Israel] has encouraged resistance movements to conduct military exercises inside Palestinian residential areas that are close to the border areas, without approaching the contact lines with the Israeli army.

Hamas does indeed enjoy the uninhabited, sandy hills of former Jewish settlements. But what they really love is desecrating Jewish synagogues:

Several videos filmed and produced by various terror organizations present gunmen training at the sites of public buildings once used in Gush Katif, including synagogues and schools. One of the structures identifiable in the short films in the Atzmona synagogue in which the terrorists train for different scenarios with live ammunition. Aside from Hamas, the Islamic Jihad also trains at the Jewish holy site. The buildings serve as scenery for kidnapping scenarios and urban warfare including the invasion and “purification” of buildings.

All the public buildings were left standing, by the by, so Palestinian civilians could move in and use them. Touching gesture, that. In a similarly touching gesture, the Olmert government is preparing to withdraw from more territory. The bad news: that’s exactly what brought Hamas to power in Gaza. The worse news: Hamas might not be the ones who take over evacuated West Bank territory. After the jump, the phrases “Al Qaeda,” “military intifada,” and “chemical weapons”:

“After Abu Mazen leaves the scene, there will not be another politician like him. He believes in the peace process and in negotiations more than anyone else in the PA. Every president following him will have only two options: to resign or to embark on a military intifada. But the next intifada will not be one of stones, or even suicide bombers; it will be one of missiles and possibly even chemical weapons.”… Khader headed the PLO committee that is charged with protecting the rights of Palestinian refugees, but now says he no longer wants Jaffa as part of a future country. “I tell the Israelis: I seek only security and stability. But they must understand that the Palestinian ‘revolutionaries’ who relinquished the path of war against Israel are liable to return as terrorists of the Al-Qaida type. Because, you know, we will never give up our rights.”

Prisoner releases will probably solve this sentiment. Israel should try some more. And in the meantime, let’s all keep pouring billions of dollars of security assistance into Fatah. The 1,000 automatic rifles that they got this week aren’t nearly enough. Because Fatah – they’re the moderate Palestinian faction.

And in the meantime, maybe Hamas will get tired or something.

References:
* Armed Palestinian Factions Use Calm with Israel to Train New Fighters
* Hamas using Gush Katif synagogues to train gunmen [YNet]
* Olmert: We must prepare now for the evacuation of West Bank settlers [Ha'aretz]
* ‘Al-Qaida intifada could make Hamas look like child’s play’ [Ha'aretz]
* PA Police Getting More Than $5 Billion In New Aid To Use Against Israeli Civilians, Lose To Hamas [MR]
* Israel allows transfer of rifles, bullets to PA [JPost]
* Hamas armed wing vows to continue battle [JPost]