Early Wednesday morning (June 28), Israel Air Force (IAF) planes flew over Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's palace in the Mediterranean port city of Latakia in northwestern Syria. The fly-by was a reminder to Assad that he bears responsibility for the recent terrorism against Israel and for granting refuge to Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and other exiled Hamas members. [1]
Mashaal, who heads Hamas' Damascus political bureau, gave the go-ahead for the Kerem Shalom attack June 25 in which Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit was kidnapped as he patrolled the Kerem Shalom crossing on the Israeli side of the southern Gaza Strip border. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and four others were wounded. The assault was an attempt to sabotage negotiations on the prisoner's agreement between Hamas and Fatah. [2]
Mashaal has blocked any diplomatic attempts to secure Shalit's release. [3]
In an interview on British television Wednesday, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres said, "The international community should try Khaled Mashaal for his involvement in murder and terror." [4]
On Tuesday, Peres stated, "Commands regarding this event [kidnapping] came from Syria, the current residence of a man determined to stand in the way of peace. We are well aware that Syria is providing refuge to someone who wants to create victims and destroy prospects for peace. I am referring to Khaled Mashaal - the man who, most likely, gave the order for the kidnap and is preventing the soldier's release; Syria is housing him openly." [5]
U.S. Ambassador Richard Jones told reporters Tuesday, "The problem is in Damascus and that's where I think we should focus the world's attention." [6]
Syria, which is listed by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror, [7] continues to sustain numerous Islamic militant cells. According to the U.S. State Department's
, Syria aids seven out of the 28 terrorist groups that are listed, either through financial or military aid. [8]
As of 9/11, at least five Syrian-based terrorist organizations - Hizbullah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) - have committed acts of terror in one form or another that have resulted in dozens of deaths, including an Israeli cabinet minister. [9]
According to the U.S. State Department, Damascus continues to allow Iran to utilize Syria as a depot for providing supplies to Hizbullah. [10]
Since 1984, Iran has been designated by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror and is a party to five of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism. [11]
Since his election in June 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been holding meetings with Mashaal and other Hamas leaders urging Hamas to increase attacks on Israel. [12]
At a March 9 roundtable in Washington, D.C. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated that Iran is "A kind of central banker for terrorism in important regions, like Lebanon, through Hizbullah in the Middle East, in the Palestinian Territories, and we have deep concern about what Iran is doing in the south of Iraq." [13]
In May 2006, Iran provided $50 million to Hamas to make up for lost tax revenue. [14] Through Ahmadinejad's office, Mashaal funnels money to Palestinian terrorist groups in Israel and Europe ready to commit terrorism. [15]
From April 14-16, 2006, Mashaal and other Palestinian terrorist groups, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, attended a conference hosted by President Ahmadinejad entitled
On Feb. 15, 2006, Hamas' deadly Izz Edeen al-Qassam Brigades posted that Hamas' Ramallah cell had been trained and funded by the Iranian-backed group Hizbullah. [17]
That same day, a video from 2004 was broadcast on one of Hamas' Web sites. The tape showed two suicide bombers, Idham Ahmed Majila and Maumin Rajab Rajab, who blew themselves up at Gaza's Karni crossing in a terrorist attack in 2004. Majila is heard stating, "We are a blood-drinking people and we know that there is no better blood than Jewish blood." [18] Rajab said in the video, "We are carrying out this operation as harsh revenge against the sons of monkeys and pigs." [19]
In Dec. 2005, Mashaal visited Tehran, where he met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, President Ahmadinejad, Expediency Council Chairman Hashemi-Rafsanjani and others. [20]
Hamas' Nablus cell claimed responsibility for a double suicide bus bombing in the city of Beersheba that claimed the lives of 16 people and left more than 100 wounded. Israel held Khaled Mashaal and Hamas' Syria bureau accountable for the bombing. [21]
Two suicide bombings in 1997, one on July 30 at Mahane Yehuda market and one on Sept. 4 at the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall, left more that 21 dead and more than 359 wounded. Mashaal was held responsible for both of them. [22]
Late Wednesday night (June 28), Israel arrested more than 60 members of the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority government. Senior Hamas officials, ministers and legislators were taken into Israeli custody "on the basis of their being members [of Hamas] and in some cases activists in a terrorist organization whose activities are banned by law." [23]
Mayor of Kalilya
A June 28 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) communiqué stated: [25]
The rise of the Hamas terrorist organization to power was seen as a grave development that brought the international community to demand of the Hamas government an immediate cessation of terrorism. The Government of Israel at that time acted with restraint in order to give the President of the Palestinian Authority the opportunity to get the Hamas government to abandon the path of terrorism and violence.
Recent events and especially those of the last few days prove that the results of the elections in the Palestinian Authority were translated into a government policy of terrorism. A manifestation of this policy has been the continuing launching of Kassam rocket attacks against communities in southern Israel and against the civilian population with the explicit intention of sowing destruction and causing the deaths of innocent people; the incursion into the territory of Israel and the kidnapping of the soldier Gilad Shalit constituted a severe escalation as part of the terrorist policy of the Palestinian government.
Hamas' taking of responsibility for these events and for the kidnapping of the soldier, as well as the demand for an exchange of captives, prove that the main purpose of Hamas is not to care for the welfare of the Palestinian people, but to carry out a terrorist policy against Israel. Consequently, the Government of Israel decided, as its basic obligation to its citizens, that it must fulfill its responsibilities and carry out the requirements of the Ordinance for the Prevention of Terrorism. (http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1900_1949/Prevention+of+Terrorism+Ordinance+No+33+of+5708-19.htm)
Timeline
Khaled Mashaal
2004 (Mar.) - Became the leader of the Hamas movement.
2001 - Left his residence in Qatar for Syria after being expelled from Jordan in August
1999 - Was expelled from Jordan and moved to Damascus. In Syria he runs Hamas' political bureau. [26]
1990s - Took over the operation of Hamas bureau of Amman. Mashaal gave up teaching physics to work for Hamas. He was in charge of international fundraising for Hamas and was principally involved in expanding Hamas' foreign relations with Iran and Syria. [27]
1971 - Joined the Muslim Brotherhood.[28] He founded the List of the Islamic Right while a student at the University of Kuwait[29] and led the Kuwait contingent of Islamist Palestinians.[30]
1956 - Was born in Siwad, a West Bank town near Ramallah. He and his family later moved to Kuwait.
Sampling of Mashaal's Public Statements
March 26, 2006, in response to a question about Hamas signing an accord to recognize Israel, Mashaal replied:
"No to negotiations with Israel, no to recognition of Israel..."
Al-Rai Al-Aam, March 26, 2006, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terror+Groups/The%20forked%20tongue%20of%20Hamas%2011-Apr-2006
April 18, 2006, in opposition to a decision made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in regards to Hamas, Mashaal stated:
"We can understand that Israel and America are persecuting us, and seeking ways to besiege and starve us, but what about the sons of our people who are plotting against us, who are following a studied plan to make us fail?"
Teibel, Amy, "Power Balance Among Hamas Leaders Could See Shift," The Associated Press Worldstream, May 2, 2006
May 11, 2006, At the conclusion of a two-day conference for Islamic scholars Mashaal insisted Hamas could close ranks with Fatah by:
"...liberating Palestine, not recognizing Israel and adopting the path of Jihad and resistance...I urge you in the name of God to save your blood and direct the weapons to the chests of the enemy...We are brothers. We may disagree politically, but we are not enemies."
"Hamas Leader Mashaal Calls On Rival Fatah Party To Unite With His Palestinian Group," Associated Press Worldstream, May 11, 2006
April 19, 2004, from an interview conducted in Beirut with Tim Sebastian:
TS- What are the conditions for a ceasefire? A new ceasefire.
KM: Let Israel withdraw first, and after that we will negotiate. This is our land, this is our natural right
TS- A withdrawal to the '67 borders.
KM: We consider this positive step but we have the right in all Palestine
[...]
TS- Answer me just one question. Does Israel have the right to exist in peace? Do you acknowledge the right of Israel to exist in peace?
KM: We consider Palestine our land and this is our natural right and the occupation must end. Occupation cannot be divided.
TS- Answer the question, yes or no, does Israel have the right to exist? It's a very simple question.
KM: I am saying we have the right to our land and we have the right to be freed from occupation. Any occupation even if time goes by doesn't become legitimate.
Sebastian, Tim, "Hamas: Khaled Mashal," BBC HARDtalk, April 19, 2004, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/3639093.stm
March 20, 2006, shortly after Hamas' presentation of its newly elected Cabinet in Gaza, Mashaal said:
"We have only two options - either surrender to the international community's conditions and losing ourselves, our land and our dignity, or remaining patient, stand our ground and seek God's help until salvation comes."
Waked, Ali. "Mashaal: US hindered PA unity," ynetnews.com, March 20, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3230263,00.html
March 6, 2006, from interviews with Mashaal on Al-Jazeera TV and Al-Arabiya TV:
"There will be no concessions. Some people believe that realism means making concessions. It doesn't. Concessions were made in the past, with no results. On the contrary, making concessions is not realistic, because it means you are not acting in accordance with your people's needs, or with the requirements entailed by the reality of the Palestinian people."
[...]
"Our realism also leads us to conclude that the demand to disarm and the demand to turn Hamas and the rest of the resistance forces into political parties is an unrealistic demand, because it has nothing to do with the Palestinian reality."
MEMRI Special Dispatch Series No. 1109, March 9, 2006, http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP110906
Feb. 3, 2006, from Mashaal's address at the Al-Murabit Mosque in Damascus following the Friday sermon, aired on Al-Jazeera TV:
"We say to this West, which does not act reasonably, and does not learn its lessons: By Allah, you will be defeated. You will be defeated in Palestine, and your defeat there has already begun. True, it is Israel that is being defeated there, but when Israel is defeated, its path is defeated, those who call to support it are defeated, and the cowards who hide behind it and support it are defeated. Israel will be defeated, and so will whoever supported or supports it.
[...]
"Tomorrow, our nation will sit on the throne of the world. This is not a figment of the imagination, but a fact. Tomorrow we will lead the world, Allah willing. Apologize today, before remorse will do you no good. Our nation is moving forwards, and it is in your interest to respect a victorious nation."
[...]
"Today, you are fighting the army of Allah. You are fighting against peoples for whom death for the sake of Allah, and for the sake of honor and glory, is preferable to life."
[...]
"Before Israel dies, it must be humiliated and degraded. Allah willing, before they die, they will experience humiliation and degradation every day."
[...]
"Yes, Allah is greater than America. Allah is greater than the oppressors. Allah is greater than the superpowers. Allah is greater than the tyranny of the oppressing world, and Allah is greater than Israel. Since Allah is greater, and He supports us, we will be victorious."
[...]
"Hamas has a vision. Hamas has a plan. Hamas can manage the political battle, just like it managed the military battle, but in a different language, with different tools, and recognizing Israel is not one of them. Nor is giving up the rights, giving up the right to resistance, and nor is giving up the weapons of the resistance."
[...]
"If we continue to praise our products, constantly saying: 'We love peace,' 'We have given up the option of war,' 'Peace is our strategic option,' 'For God's sake, Israel, give us a few scraps of land' - By Allah, we will be degraded in the eyes of our enemies."
MEMRI Special Dispatch Series No. 1087, Feb. 7, 2006, http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP108706
Jan. 29, 2006, during a press conference, Mashaal said:
"There is a difference between regarding the period of calm as divergence from the resistance - which will never happen - and regarding the period of calm as one of the tactics of the resistance."
MEMRI Special Dispatch Series No. 1081, Jan. 31, 2006,
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP108106
Dec. 15, 2005, while talking to reporters in Tehran, Mashaal said:
"Just as Islamic Iran defends the rights of the Palestinian people, we defend the rights of Islamic Iran...We are part of a united front against the enemies of Islam....Each member of this front defends itself with its own means in its region. We carry the battle to Palestine. If Israeli launches an attack against Iran, we will expand the battlefield."
"Hamas will side with Iran if attacked by Israel," palestine-info.co.uk, Dec. 15, 2005, http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/am/publish/article_15890.shtml
Dec. 12, 2005, Mashaal told Iranian President Ahmadinejad:
"Hamas appreciates Iran's stance against Israel generally and the president's "insistence on the illegitimate nature of Israel."
Samii, Bill. "Iran: President's anti-Israel statements reflect the official line," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Dec. 15, 2005 http://rfe.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/12/5e71be3d-c98f-40bb-b7f2-4919d1425cdf.html
[1]1 Yoaz, Yuval and Associated Press, "IAF warplanes buzz palace of Syrian President Bashar Assad," Haaretz, June 28, 2006, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/732362.html
[2] Abu Toameh, Khaled, "'No chance IDF op can rescue soldier," The Jerusalem Post, June 25, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885848088&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[3] Issacharoff, Avi and Harel, Amos, "Brokers blame Hamas' Meshal for blocking release of soldier," Haaretz, June 28, 2006, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/731595.html
[4] Sofer, Ronny, "Peres: Meshaal should be tried for murder and terrorism," YnetNews.com, June 28, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3268717,00.html
[5] Einav, Hagai, "Peres points finger at Syria for kidnapping," YnetNews.com, June 27, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3268172,00.htm
[6] Keinon, Herb, "Diplomatic options for Shalit's release fading," The Jerusalem
Post, June 28, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885869111&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[7] U.S. Department of State, "Overview of state-sponsored terror," Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/31944.pdf
[8] Patterns of Global Terrorism 2001, http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2001/html/10249.htm
[9] Levitt, Mathew, "Syrian sponsorship of global terrorism: The need for accountability," The Washington Institute, Sept. 18, 2002, http://www.washingtoninstitute.org
[10] United States International Information Programs, "State sponsors of terrorism block efforts to reduce threats," Washington File, April 27, 2005, http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archive/2005/Apr/27-613600.html
[11] Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, "Overview of state-sponsored terrorism," U.S. Department of State, April 29, 2004, http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2003/31644.htm
[12] Glick, Caroline, "Our world: Facing down our defeatist leaders," The Jerusalem Post, June 12, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150035838195&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[13] Samii, Bill, "Iran: Intifada conference in Tehran has multiple objectives," Radio Free Europe/Radio Free Liberty, April 14, 2006, http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/04/a6170638-c079-4af1-b441-75dbba236340.html
[14] Bazzi, Mohammed, "Who's running Hamas?" The Seattle Times, June 10, 2006, http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003052258_hamas11.html
[15] Ciechanover, Dr. Yosef, Peled, Lt. Gen. (Res.) Rafi and Tolkowsky, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Dan, "Report of the commission concerning the events in Jordan September 1997," Jerusalem Government Press Office, Feb. 7, 1998. Retrieved from Foundation for American Scientists Website, http://www.fas.org/irp/world/israel/ciechanover.htm
[16] Samii, Bill, "Iran: Intifada conference in Tehran has multiple objectives," Radio Free Europe/Radio Free Liberty, April 14, 2006, http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/04/a6170638-c079-4af1-b441-75dbba236340.html
[17] Al-Mughrabi, Nidal, "Hamas web site says group received Hizbollah money," Reuters , Feb. 15, 2006; http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060215/ts_nm/mideast_hamas_hizbollah_dc; Waked, Ali, "Hamas: Hizbullah funded us," YnetNews.com, Feb. 15, 2006, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3216432,00.html
[18] Shragai, Nadav, "Hamas suicide bombers' videotape: 'We drink Jews' blood,'" Haaretz , Feb. 15, 2005, http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/683165.html
[19] Ibid.
[20] Samii, Bill. "Iran: President's Anti-Israel Statements Reflect The Official Line," Radio Free Europe RadioLiberty, December 15, 2006, http://rfe.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/12/5e71be3d-c98f-40bb-b7f2-4919d1425cdf.html
[21] United States International Information Programs, "State sponsors of terrorism block efforts to reduce threats," Washington File, April 27, 2005, http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archive/2005/Apr/27-613600.html
[22] Yoaz, Yuval, "Ramon: Hamas leader Meshal is definitely assassination target,"
Haaretz, June 28, 2006, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/732362.html
[23] "Behind the headlines: Arrest of Hamas leaders," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, June 28, 2006, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Arrest+of+Hamas+leaders+29-Jun-2006.htm
[24] Katz, Yaakov, JPost.com staff, and Associated Press, "IDF arrests over 60 senior Hamas MP's," The Jerusalem Post, June 29, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885878440&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull ; "IOF kidnap PA ministers, Hamas' lawmakers in West Bank," Palestine Information Center, June 29, 2006, http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/am/publish/article_18928.shtml
[25]"Behind the headlines: Arrest of Hamas leaders," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, June 28, 2006, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Arrest+of+Hamas+leaders+29-Jun-2006.htm
[26] "Profile: Khaled Meshaal of Hamas," BBC News, February 8, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3563635.stm
[27] Ibid.
[28] Ibid.
[29] Ibid.
[30] Ibid.
The Israel Project
alan@newsblaze.com
Tags:
* The views of Opinion writers do not necessarily reflect the views of NewsBlaze
Search News
Daily News
