Chapter 10: Terrorism in Israel and Palestine

1. Chapter 10:Terrorism in Israel and Palestine

2. Palestine Liberation Organization • PLO – Palestinian Liberation Organization: • Secular organization • Yasser Arafet – its leader and founder (1964) • Attempted to establish a government for displaced Palestinians • Purpose was to create a political organization to help form a multinational alliance against Israel • Looked to Arab governments to jointly launch a war against Israel

3. Palestine Liberation Organization • FATAH: • Yasser Arafat formed Fatah in 1959 • Purpose was to create a guerrilla organization • Advocated use of small unit tactics and terrorist actions • Proposed terrorizing unfortified Israeli civilian targets after Six Day War defeat • Merged Fatah into PLO in 1964 • Media coverage of Fatah attacks raised PLO status throughout the Arab world

4. Palestine Liberation Organization • Fatah after Karamah: • After Fatah’s attack on Israel, Israel respond with force. • In 1968 Israeli Defense Force (IDF) tanks, infantry, helicopters and artillery raided the Palestinians in the village of Karamah (refuge center housing Fatah members - fadayeen). • Fadayyen fought back and Israeli army had to retreat.

5. Palestine Liberation Organization • PLO Expelled: • As it grew, the PLO identified more closely with militant Arab states and organized its base in Jordan. • Concerned about the growing influence of foreign nationals, Jordanian King Hussein ordered PLO to stop attacking Israel. • Arafat defied Hussein’s order. • In 1970 Hussain ordered Marital Law. • Arafat and Hussain signed a ceasefire. Arafat and the PLO fled to southern Lebanon.

6. Palestine Liberation Organization • Black September and Munich: • Black September was a splinter group of the PLO • Formed after King Hussein’s September attack • Black September began planning a strike against Israel • With the help of German terrorists, Black September attacked Olympic Village in September 1972. • Took most of the Israeli Olympic team hostage • Killed those who attempted escape • Botched rescue attempt by Germans ended when terrorists machine-gunned down their hostages • In October, Arab terrorists hijacked a Lufthansa jet and demanded release of the Munich terrorist – Germans capitulated.

7. Palestine Liberation Organization • 1982 Invasion of Lebanon: • PLO becoming potent force in southern Lebanon • Iran joined fighting after Islamic revolution of 1979 • Established new terrorist organization called Islamic Jihad • Endemic civil war raged in Lebanon • Operation Peace for Galilee • IDF forces invaded Lebanon • PLO retreat from Lebanon • Fighting in Lebanon continued with a new group: Hezbollah – an umbrella-style organization • Israel's fight with PLO shifted from Lebanon to Palestinians areas in Israel

8. Factionalism in Palestinian Terrorism • Yom Kippur/ Ramadan War caused shift in Middle East terrorism • 1967 – 1973 PLO characterized by internal splintering • Several groups split from Arafat • Democratic Front for Liberation of Palestine • Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine • Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, General Command • Sabri al Banna - Abu Nidal Organization

9. Abu Nidal Organization • Abu Nidal: • Created rebel organization called Black June • Jointed Fatah for the purpose of regaining a Palestinian homeland • Became disillusioned with Fatah and Arafat • With Iraqi assistance built an infrastructure to support his terrorist organization • Moved his operations to Damascus in 1983 • In 1987 Moumar Gadhafi brought Abu Nidal to Libya • From there Abu Nidal organization operated as private contractor

10. Abu Nidal • Abu Nidal: • Operated on the international level • Particularly ruthless – terrorists became noted for the brutality of their attacks • Changed the face of Middle Eastern terrorism • Increased activities in Europe • Created a large terrorist group • Immersed himself in the Lebanese Civil War • Terrorism become the meaning for existence • Began working as a mercenary for foreign governments

11. Palestinian Islamic Jihad • Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) • Secular group arising after Yom Kippur War • Small group that emerged in Egypt • Influenced by militant Salafism • Disillusioned with the Muslim Brotherhood • PIJ founders: • Fathi Shekaki • Abdul Aziz • Bashir Musa

12. Palestinian Islamic Jihad • Fathi Shekaki • Longed to take direct – military – action against infidels • Supported Iranian revolution • Left Egypt in 1981 with Aziz and Musa to settle in the Gaza Strip • Advocate of umbrella-style organization and the suicide bomber (Hezbollah innovations) • Discovered that small groups are virtually invisible for enemies, and for that reason let his group split. • The U.S.A. Department of State sees the structure of PIJ as a pillar of strength.

13. Palestinian Islamic Jihad • PIJ terrorists gained power through group’s hidden structure • No infrastructure or visible means of support • Invisibility partially due to growing number of groups claiming the name Islamic Jihad • Impossible to fight a non-organization • Not concerned with claiming credit for operations • 1987 First Intifada – PIJ joining street fights • 1993 Oslo Accord promises peace in Middle East - Fathi Shekaki joins a new Rejectionist Front

14. Palestinian Islamic Jihad • Shekaki was assassinated in Malta in 1995. • Shekaki’s succesor, Ramadan Abdullah Sallah, maintained Shekaki philosophy. • In 2001 PIJ launched a suicide bombing campaign: • Sought deeper ties to Hezbollah and Hamas • Department of Justice (DOJ) believes PIJ has an organized network of financial supporters including some within the U.S. • U.S. government claims to have uncovered a PIJ financial and administrative network at a Florida University.

15. Hamas and the Rise of Religious Organizations • Palestinian Muslim Brothers would become the nucleus of Hamas • Hamas formed in 1987 • Tied to Sheik Ahmed Yassin • Wanted to steer the resistance movement along a religious course • Hamas Charter published in 1988 – declares Palestine as a God-given land from the Jordan river to Mediterranean Sea • Hamas reflects non-violence ideas against fellow Palestinians • Hamas opposes PLO • Hamas maintains political wing to oversee internal and foreign affairs

16. Hamas and the Rise of Religious Organizations • Struggles for Leadership: • Yassin was jailed from 1989 to 1997 • Musa Abu Marzuq took over Hamas • Strategy more violent than Yassin’s • Launched savage suicide bombings in Israel • Created ‘outside’ leadership basing Hamas outside of Palestine territory • In 1997 Yassin was released from prison and while under house arrest he gradually reasserted control over Hamas.

17. Hamas and the Rise of Religious Organizations • In 2003 Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas brokered a limited ceasefire, asking Hamas, the PIJ and related groups to end their campaigns. • Arafat and PIJ dominate Palestinian politics • In 2006 Fatah lost its position and Hamas won the election. • The U.S.A and UE did not recognize Hamas’s victory. • 2007 - Hamas had driven Fatah from Gaza and Abbas dissolved the government and formed a new one without Hamas. • 2008 - Operation Cast Lead: Israel assaults Gaza.

18. The Future • In March 2004 Israeli helicopters fired three missiles at Yassin. • Hamas announced his replacement with Abdel Aziz Rantisi. • Israeli assassinated Rantsi in the same manner as Yassin. • A new leader was appointed but his identity is kept in secret. • There is a suspicion the new leader (Khalid Mashal) acts outside of Palestine from Damascus. • It is suspected that he may develop an international orientation and present a threat to the U.S.

19. The Future

20. al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades • Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (Brigades) formed to put Fatah at the center of the new Intifada. • Began as secular group • Increasing use of Jihadist rhetoric • First secular Palestinian group to use suicide tactics • Suicide bombing became the most important tactic of all the Palestinian terrorist groups • Brigades recognize Israel’s right to exist. • Intend to stop Israeli incursions and attacks in Palestinian areas • Punish Israel for each attack

21. al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades • al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades’ effective tactics: • Drive-by shootings • Snipers • Ambushes • Kidnap-murders • suicide bombings • Brigade suicide bombers were frightening for two reasons: • They were secular • Sought out crowded civilian targets • Purpose is to kill and maim as many victims as possible in the most public way possible

22. al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades • Leadership in the Martyrs Brigades • Al Aqsa has little centralized structure • Its strength comes from the fact that small cells are able to operate without a strong leader • Administration is pushed to the lowest operational level • Cells function almost autonomously • Effective because they operate in a network • Effective without centralized leadership • Al Aqsa is suspected of being associated with Fatah • Marwan Barghouti is the commander • Arafat pays the expenses and set the agenda (Israelis report) • There is no evidence that he has control over the organization

23. Violent Jewish Fundamentalism • Jewish Fundamentalism: • Involved in terrorist violence • Militant Judaism is based on the biblical notion that God has promised to restore the state the Israel • Rabbi Meir Kahane • In 1968 created the Jewish Defense League • Involved in several terrorist incidents in the U.S. • Formed the militant group – Kach • Assassinated in 1990 in the United States

24. Violent Jewish Fundamentalism • Kahane Chai: • Combined politics and biblical literalism to demand all Arabs be expelled from Israel’ occupied territories • Involved in threatening Palestinians • Threatened to attack Arabs and Israeli officials seeking peace • Committed to stop any peace proposal recognizing territorial rights of Palestinians • Gush Emunim • fundamentalist Israeli settlement in Palestinian territory, gets political support from Israel • Same set of beliefs as violent fundamentalists • Rhetoric appears normative compared with violent rhetoric of other groups

25. Violent Jewish Fundamentalism • Problems with Jewish militant extremism: Hanauer: • Extremists claim the exclusive right to determine the truth. • They advocate an ideal order • Gush Emunim and Kach claim the Messiah can come only when the existing order is purified. • National identify of Israel and its political legitimacy can only be determined through religion. • All current events are defined within a narrow set of beliefs that define a limited worldview and identify only a few people as being chosen by God.

26. Controversial Counterterrorist Policies • Many Israeli police and military units have established excellent reputations in counterterrorist operations. • Tactical operations are second to none. • Mossad – Israeli intelligence service • Shin Beth – Domestic Israeli security service • IDF – Israeli Defense Force • Israeli police – able to handle bombs, kidnappings, snipers

27. Controversial Counterterrorist Policies • International controversy • Bulldozing • Purpose is to destroy the family homes of suicide bombers • Suspected leaders in militant groups and others were targeted • Farms and other areas were bulldozed • The Wall • Condemned by the international community, a concrete and barbed-wire barrier cut through Palestinian areas. • Construction reduced suicide attacks • Construction separated Palestinians from their jobs, families and services

28. Controversial Counterterrorist Policies • Invading Lebanon • First invasion, 1982, to rid south of the PLO, ended with 18 year occupation and the creation of Hezbollah. • 1993 offensive in Lebanon to disrupt Hezbollah operations • Operation Grapes of Wrath: destruction of bridges, power plants, and other infrastructure • Attempt to create a wedge between Lebanon and Hezbollah • July 2006 another invasion • Israeli Air Naval and IDF attacked Lebanon with an attempt to destroy Hezbollah; they defended its action saying the Lebanon government was unable to disarm and confront Hezbollah on its own.

29. Controversial Counterterrorist Policies • Selective Assassination • Paz • might internationalize the conflict • Bayman • is publicly transparent • Krauthammer • Israelis feel that harsh policies must be implemented to deter terrorism. • U.S. repeatedly has taken the stance that Israel cannot be condemned for harsh measures until the international community also condemns Palestinian terrorism.