Palestinians training for possible civil war

Palestinians training for possible civil war
Clashes could break out, spill over to Israel if Hamas government dismantled

Security organizations and militant groups associated with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party are currently undergoing training for the possible breakout within weeks of large-scale clashes with Hamas, WND has learned.

The possible infighting, which Palestinian leaders speaking to WND warned could result in a "Palestinian civil war," is feared if Abbas follows through with recent threats to dismantle the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

Israeli officials are worried any major Palestinian clashes could spill over into attacks against the Jewish state.

Sources in Fatah's Force 17, which serves as Abbas' personal security detail and as special police forces in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, said the group has been training "ferociously" this week.

"Even though it is Ramadan, we are checking very hard all of the local units and training night and day in the special use of arms and combat techniques," said a Force 17 officer, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The training will continue all of next week," the officer said.

Fatah officials said the training is taking place in the party's strongholds in Gaza and in northern Samaria, including in Nablus, Jenin, Ramallah and at special training bases in Jericho. They said most of Fatah's "security organizations" are taking part, including Force 17, the General Security Services and the Palestinian Preventative Security Services.

Members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group, which is the declared "military wing" of Fatah, told WND they are training, as well.

Abu Nasser, second in command of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Nablus' Balata refugee camp, told WND, "I don't even have much time to talk because of the training. All our forces are working to prepare for any possibility."

Many members of the Brigades are also officers of Force 17.

Together with the Islamic Jihad terror group, the Brigades has taken responsibility for every suicide bombing inside Israel the past two years, including an attack in Tel Aviv in April that killed American teenager Daniel Wultz and nine Israelis. The Brigades also has carried out scores of deadly shooting and rocket attacks against Israeli civilians in recent months.

Hamas won a majority of Palestinian parliamentary seats in elections earlier this year. According to multiple press reports Abbas has been considering dismantling the Hamas-led PA.

As Palestinian president, Abbas has the authority to abolish the PA and establish an emergency government that he would head for three months, at which point new elections would be held. Under certain circumstances, Abbas can maintain and lead the emergency government indefinitely, usurping Hamas' power

Major Hamas-Fatah clashes are feared if Abbas dismantles the PA, said Israeli and Palestinian security officials.

Last month Hamas and Fatah engaged in heavy gunfights in Gaza, Judea and Samaria after negotiations to establish a national unity government between the two appeared to have fallen through.

A senior Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told WND Fatah security officials noted in recent firefights Hamas members in Gaza used weaponry more advanced than what was known to have been in the Hamas arsenal, including newer styles of assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.

The official said he feared Hamas could overpower Fatah's forces in Gaza if major fighting broke out. Fatah is known to be stronger in Judea and Samaria than in the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. has reportedly been working on ways to build up Abbas' security forces against Hamas.

The Washington Times reported this week the U.S. has drafted a plan to enhance Force 17. Last week, the New York Times reported the U.S. proposed expanding Abbas' Force 17 from 3,500 men to 6,000 as part of a $26-million plan to strengthen the Palestinian leader.

The Associated Press and Israel's leading Yediot Aharonot daily reported new training facilities for Force 17 are slated to be set up in the West Bank town of Jericho and in Gaza, at a cost of $2 million each, according to the U.S. proposal.

As WND reported, there is a fear any American money or weapons provided to Fatah could make its way to associated Palestinian terror groups, including the Al Aqsa Brigades.

'Clashes could break out within weeks'

Meanwhile senior Fatah sources tell WND U.S. aid to bolster Force 17 is part of a long -term project and may be "too late" to help with possible upcoming clashes. The Fatah sources fear clashes could break out within weeks if Abbas decides to dismantle the PA.

"It's possible Abbas can act right after Ramadan," said a Fatah source.

The month long Ramadan holiday ends October 24 with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.

Israeli security officials fear any major Palestinian clashes will result in increased attacks against the Jewish state. In particular, the security officials say, if Hamas loses its government position the terror group may resume direct attacks against Israeli targets.

Since it assumed power, Hamas largely has refrained from attacking Israel under its name, although the group carried out a major raid in June of an Israeli military station during which Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was kidnapped. Also, the group has been aiding rocket fire against Jewish towns near Gaza and has directed the Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees terror group to carry out attacks, Israeli security officials say.

'Hamas debating attacks against U.S. interests'

There is also fear if Hamas loses government power it could direct attacks against U.S. regional interests.

A report in Time Magazine this past weekend quoted several anonymous Hamas sources claiming the U.S. was urging Abbas to dismantle the PA. The sources, speaking to Time anonymously, said clandestine meetings were held in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to discuss the possibility of targeting the U.S.

The report said the Israeli intelligence estimate is that for now Hamas will restrain from targeting the U.S., but if its government is toppled such restraint could dissipate.

Speaking openly to WND Sunday, Abu Abdullah, a leader of Hamas' so-called military wing in Gaza, confirmed the Time report.

"The Americans are supporting Israel unfairly and are playing a leading role in the conspiracy against the (Hamas led) Palestinian government. All Palestinians feel a hatred toward the American government and wouldn't mind attacks [against it], but for now we are limiting our fight to Palestine," said Abu Abdullah, who is considered one of the most important operational members of Hamas' Izzedine al-Qassam Martyrs Brigades, Hamas' declared "resistance" department.

Abu Abdullah warned to WND that if the Hamas government is "toppled" with the help of the U.S. then "all options are open."