Segacs's World I Know

Posts Tagged ‘al aqsa martyrs brigade’

Allison thinks she’s officially seen it all, with the news of the apprehension of a hermaphrodite would-be suicide bomber:

Israeli security forces thwarted a suicide bombing planned for Tel Aviv when they arrested a Palestinian hermaphrodite armed with a 15-kilogram bomb in the West Bank, Palestinian sources said.

Amal Juma’a, 32, is a hermpahrodite who goes by the name Ahmed, Palestinian Authority sources told Army Radio. The report said the terror attack was planned for Monday.

Sign of the times? Possibly.

But more likely, it’s a sign of the culture. It’s difficult enough in supposedly liberal, advanced-thinking areas of the world to have a “different” gender identity. Imagine what it must be like in a society that still treats women like chattel and has honour killings of women who are no longer virgins? Palestinian society isn’t exactly known for its advanced attitudes towards homosexuals, transsexuals, or, well, in this case, hermaphrodites.

There’s one place all the people who feel outcast or alienated can go to feel accepted, powerful, and special: to the terrorists. Groups like Hamas and Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade are only too happy to help the alienated “find purpose” by strapping some C-4 to their chests and going to blow up innocent Jewish children.

In case you’re wondering, this isn’t one of those “excuses for the terrorists” postings. It makes no difference whether a terrorist is a man, woman, hermaphrodite, or a Marilyn Manson-type: a murder is still a murderer.

But it’s a sad fact that the terrorist groups prey on the weak, on the maligned, on the fringes of society. They find their killers among people to whom murder-suicide seems like a career opportunity. There’s no way to tell whether that’s the case here. But it very well could be.

Update: Stefan and Harry are also amused. It wouldn’t have been so amusing had the intended attack actually succeeded.

The headline of this Haaretz story, about a thwarted attack on Netzarim, says a lot more than it lets on:

Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad claim foiled attack on Netzarim

Israel Defense Forces soldiers killed at least two gunmen in the pre-dawn hours Monday as the Palestinians sought to attack the Gaza Strip flashpoint settlement of Netzarim, military sources said.

[ . . . ]

Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, part of Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement, claimed joint responsibility for the operation. The three groups have increasingly cooperated in attacks on Israelis.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad… and Fatah.

The article later says that it’s the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade wing of Fatah that was involved. But this is Haaretz – not the Jerusalem Post – now clarifying that the distinction between Arafat’s Fatah and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is so irrelevant, it doesn’t even need to be specified in a headline.

Finally, we get a little closer to the truth: Arafat directs and supports terrorism, and has no more legitimacy as a leader than any terrorist dictator thug – despite the West’s attempt to legitimatize him as the “moderate” alternative to Hamas.

That’s just BS. Hamas believes itself driven by religious purposes. Fatah is more strategic and pays lip service to secularism. But they’re both after the exact same thing: no more Israel. Hence all this “cooperation”, which the Western media is making out to be such a big deal, but, when you think about it, isn’t really all that much of a stretch.

It’s about time we called a terrorist a terrorist.

LGF reports the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade’s reaction to finding out that the man they murdered in a drive-by shooting in Jerusalem was not Jewish but Arab:

A leader of a Palestinian militant group behind the drive-by killing of an Israeli jogger apologized on Saturday after the dead man was identified as an Israeli-Arab university student.

“The fighters thought [George Khoury] was a settler jogging in an area full of settlers. It was a mistake and we extend our apology to his family,” a leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed group in President Yasser Arafat’s Fatah faction, told Reuters.

“We will consider him as a martyr like hundreds of Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces,” the al-Aqsa brigades leader said, adding that the group would send a letter of apology to Khoury’s family.

How long until the media starts reporting that Khoury was killed by the IDF? Hey, it worked with Mohammed al-Dura…

Another day of terror in Israel, with a double-suicide bombing in Ashdod that killed ten people and wounded two dozen more:

The blasts were heard around the busy hour of 5 p.m.. The first bomber blew himself up inside the port, police said, and the second bombing took place four minutes later outside the facility. The first bomber asked a young boy where he could get a glass of water. The boy, whose father was reportedly killed in the attack, pointed towards a structure, where the bomber then exploded. Rescue services spokesman Yerucham Mendola said “some of the victims were thrown a long distance” by the blasts.

What is there left to say? What words of mourning, horror, or dismay can I possibly find that haven’t been said dozens of times before?

And how to make the world understand the kind of support that the terror networks enjoy among the general Palestinian population? How do you make people understand that it’s not just an isolated few extremists, but a movement that has won over the hearts and minds of the average Palestinian on the street? How to make them understand that we have no partner for peace? Maybe by reporting things like this:

Hearing news of the attack, Palestinians took to the streets in the Jenin and Jabalaya refugee camps to celebrate. Drivers honked the horns of their cars as gunmen fired into the air to express their joy. Others distributed sweets to passersby, hailing the suicide bombers, and calling on all Palestinian groups to step up their “resistance operations against the Israeli enemy.”

When will they understand that you can’t negotiate with people whose only desire is to see you dead?

Update: Maybe a picture will speak a thousand words (via LGF):

Palestinians shout slogans as they cheer after two suicide bombers from the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza blew themselves up in the Israeli port of Ashdod Sunday March 14, 1004 in Gaza city. Sunday's bombing killed 11 Israelis and wounded 18. The Islamic militant group Hamas and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, an armed group with ties to Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, claimed joint responsibility (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

There’s been another suicide bombing in Jerusalem that killed at least seven and wounded over 62:

Al-Aksa Brigades claimed responsibility for attack, which took place one day before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague is scheduled to begin hearings over the West Bank security fence.

Among the dead and wounded were a number of young students. Reuters is reporting that the attack took place near a hotel where US Jewish organization leaders were meeting. All the reports seem to have focused on the fact that the ICJ hearings are about to begin.

What is there to say? What else could there possibly be left to say, that’s any different from last time, or the time before, or the time before that? Besides sympathy for the victims and their families, concern for scared Israelis, disgust for Arafat and his terrorist band, and disdain for the world that seems to want to condemn Israel – the victim – in every instance, what else can anyone say?

Only this: I fear that if Sharon continues on the path of rewarding terrorist attacks – or seeming to – through unilateral pullouts and tearing down sections of security fence, it will only fuel the terrorists’ fire and encourage more attacks. And more innocent people will die.

Sick. All of it.

Update: Lynn has more about the PA’s connection to terror.

There was another suicide bombing in Israel earlier today. Two soldiers and one bystander were wounded:

The Aksa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility for the bombing at the army-run office near the Misila roadblock that issues travel permits to Palestinians for humanitarian reasons.

Of course, in the “if it bleeds, it leads” cynicism of the media, no deaths means no headlines.

And when suicide bombers are caught and stopped by Israeli forces before getting a chance to blow up innocent people, we hear about it even less. Then there’s all this nonsense about the roadblocks and security fences being useless at preventing terrorist attacks.

That’s just plain ridiculous. The terrorists who strap on bombs and go out seeking victims plainly have the same intent, no matter their level of success. I’m thankful that they’re stopped and prevented from doing more harm. And I hope that the soldier who was seriously wounded in today’s attack pulls through.

But no more free passes for attempted murder.

The CJC is reporting that the Canadian government has finally listed the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade as a terrorist organization: (link not yet active)

Hon. Wayne Easter (Solicitor General of Canada, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advise the House that the government has listed seven more entities pursuant to the Criminal Code and under the Anti-terrorism Act.

The newly listed entities are as follows: Jemaah Islamiah; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; Basque Homeland and Liberty; Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia; United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia; and National Liberation Army.

This listing is a public confirmation that these entities are engaged in terrorist activity. The consequences are severe, not only for terrorists but for those who support them. It is now a crime to knowingly participate in, contribute to, or facilitate the activities of these entities. Any person or group that is listed may have its assets seized and forfeited. Those who deal with the property or finances of these entities are subject to severe penalties, including up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, as most of you know, is the “militant” wing of Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement.

Update: Here’s a link to the story.

The Jerusalem Post is now reporting 22 dead and over 120 injured. CNN reports that many of the wounded are immigrant workers, who may be afraid to seek medical attention because they don’t have the proper papers to remain in Israel.

Internal Security Minister Uzi Landau said anyone injured, regardless of their legal status, should seek medical care.

“We have made it clear that we will take good care of anyone who will be taken to the hospital,” Landau said. “We’re going to see afterwards that they will be fully taken care of.”

There have been conflicting claims of responsibility, but the Israeli news sources appear to be saying that the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is behind the attacks. What I find most baffling and sickening is how three different groups all tried to claim responsibility, as though they all wish it were them behind the attacks. Who in their right mind would be proud of having murdered 22 innocent people in cold blood? The whole concept of “claiming responsibility” for suicide attacks is utterly and completely twisted.

Israel’s response has been swift. The IDF has fired missiles at Gaza City. Details are still emerging about the specific targets.

I was pretty upset at the recent news of talks between Hamas and Fatah, that were reported in the international media in such a way that made it seem as though Fatah wanted suicide bombings stopped.

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the militant (read: terrorist) wing of Fatah, is strongly in favour of suicide bombings, but only within what they refer to as the “occupied territories”. Hamas sees all of Israel as fair game, and doesn’t draw territorial distinctions.

Well, neither do I. Since when is it okay to kill innocent people in some zip codes and not others?

Lynn at In Context phrases it better than I ever could:

There’s this thing, this distinction, going around about terrorist attacks that happen “in Israel” versus attacks that happen “in the territories.” Or between attacks on “civilians” versus attacks on soldiers or “settlers.”

It seems that if you live in Judea, Samaria, the Golan Heights or the Gaza Strip, you’re fair game anywhere, according to this philosophy. And if you happen to be in any of those places at any given time, regardless of where you live, you’re also fair game. It’s this philosophy that led some to suggest that the attack on Kibbutz Metzer last week was somehow more repulsive than a similar attack would have been in, say, Kiryat Arba.

There are no “good terrroists” and “bad terrorists”. There are only bad terrorists.