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Militias in the Pay of the PA


(Ha'aretz) Danny Rubinstein - In al-Bureij in Gaza, Mahmoud Nashbat has been active in the Palestinian preventive security forces for a long time. Two years ago, he founded a militia called the Jenin Martyrs' Brigade, which numbers dozens (some say hundreds) of soldiers. The vast majority are former members of Palestinian security forces who have carried out acts of terror. More important, most of them continue to receive salaries from these organizations. In other words, in Gaza it is possible to receive a salary from the Palestinian Authority and to engage in acts of terror. How many gangs and bullies with Robin Hood-style pretensions exist in Gaza? Some say dozens: Abu Amra Bedouin tribal gangs in southern Gaza; "death squads" in central refugee camps; the Abu Rish Brigade in Khan Yunis; and Abu-Samhadana supporters in Rafah - all connected with Fatah. Hamas has its own groups, and there are other groups and political movements associated with senior Palestinians with some clout. Murder, kidnapping, and extortion, like those surrounding Nashbat, have become part of everyday life in Gaza. Mahmoud Abbas has not succeeded in coping with this phenomenon and some say he is not even trying.
2005-08-08 00:00:00
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