BICOM

It was announced yesterday that Israel’s security services had arrested a Hamas-affiliated terror cell in the West Bank town of Kalkilyah.

Seven arrests were made between December and March including one Arab Israeli citizen. Israel’s Shin Bet security service said in a statement that the cell was planning shooting and bombing attacks against Israelis and that it had already “built improvised explosive devices” and tested them while also planning to purchase firearms. The statement emphasised, “This investigation has shown, once again, the motivation that exists on the ground for carrying out terrorist attacks against Israelis.” In February, Israeli forces thwarted attempts to set up a Hamas West Bank cell primed to kidnap Israelis and In September, security forces foiled a Hamas plot to blow up a Jerusalem shopping centre.

Also yesterday, Khaled Meshaal, considered the overall leader of Hamas made clear that his organisation remains dedicated to holy war with Israel, in his first public comments since the intention to form a Fatah-Hamas unity government was announced last week.

Palestinian Authority (PA) President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas said last weekend that the new government will “obey my policy,” and would “recognise Israel and reject violence and terrorism.” However, addressing Palestinians who had gathered at a high-profile funeral, Meshaal said, “Our path is resistance and the rifle, and our choice is jihad.” He called for a unified Palestinian effort for the “liberation of our lands and holy sites and the return of the Palestinian refugees to their homes,” adding “there is no past or future without jihad and resistance. Jihad is our path.”

Meshaal’s comments come a day after another senior Hamas figure, Mahmoud al-Zahar said in an interview that the unity deal with Fatah would not alter Hamas’ outlook or operation. Hamas remains committed to Israel’s destruction and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that there will be no peace negotiations with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas, unless the organisation repudiates violence and embraces peace.