Arafat Tells Security Staff: Kill as Many Jewish Settlers as Possible Communicated by the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism / Maariv On-line and the INA
Jerusalem-----July 12......Arafat has called on the leaders of Fatah and the heads of his security forces to kill one Jewish settler every day, and to open fire at any time or place. Such was the substance of an intelligence report sent to Israeli decision-makers. Report comes
from an extremely reliable source The intelligence reportedly includes transcripts of a meeting between Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and the heads of his security forces, at which Arafat said, Pay no attention to everything I say to the media, the television or in public appearances. Pay attention only to written directives from me. According to the report, Arafat was quoted as saying, You must not let them [the settlers] reach their homes in peace, nor let them drive on the roads in safety. However, he issued orders not to fire from Area Aterritory under Palestinian security controland not to initiate terror attacks inside Israel. I want you to kill as many settlers as possible, he said. Do not
attempt to make arrests Dahlan, head of the Palestinian Preventive Security Services in the West Bank, had reportedly tried to arrest Abdallah Sami, a wanted militant, but his forces became entangled in a clash with local residents near Samis home. When word of the attempted arrest got out, an incensed Arafat reportedly severely rebuked Dahlan, and warned the other commanders not to attempt any arrests. This is in contradiction to messages relayed by Arafats political cadres, according to which the Palestinian leader has announced his intentions of doing his utmost to halt Palestinian violence against Israelis, including arresting terrorists planning attacks. Report lends
weight to intelligence assessments An Israeli security
expert, when asked what would be done with the information, said, you
can be sure that the original report has been sent to foreign leaders
by the Israeli security establishment. Internal Security Minister Uzi Landau confirmed the report, which Ma'ariv said came from a document given by well-placed sources to decision-makers in the government. Landau declined to comment directly on the document, but said it contains nothing new and Israeli officials have been aware of such orders from Arafat for quite some time. "In the last few years, Arafat has said such things repeatedly," Landau told Army Radio. "Even though the report said nothing new, I am glad that [his statements] are finally being printed, because he will remind all those that are still blinded by the Oslo Accords and Arafat." Landau denied Palestinian claims that the report was part of an Israeli disinformation campaign designed to intensify anti-Arafat sentiment and justify future attacks on the PA. "Arafat has made murdering Jews into the Palestinian national sport," Landau said. "The question is how long it will take us to get ourselves together and react." |