Hamas training paramilitary forces south of Bethlehem
RAMALLAH — Hamas has been secretly training paramilitary forces in
the West Bank.
Palestinian Authority security sources said Hamas's Executive Force is learning combat and weapons skills in several areas of the West
Bank. They said the Executive Force, secretly formed in the West Bank in
2007, has selected the Judean Desert south of Bethlehem for training.
"Hamas has trained units of the EF for attacks on Fatah and the PA, and
they have been equipped with weapons and radios," a PA security source said.
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The sources said PA intelligence has tracked EF units south and east of
Bethlehem. They said scores of Hamas fighters were found training in
remote desert areas controlled by Israel.
"The Israeli military doesn't patrol these areas, and so they are wide
open for Hamas," the source said. "Most of the training is done without live
fire, but there is plenty of physical exercises as well as instructions on
how to fight PA police at street demonstrations."
Hamas was believed to be in control of most of the villages around
Bethlehem and Hebron in the West Bank. The sources said Hamas has also been
the dominant influence of 70 percent of mosques throughout the West Bank.
PA security forces have arrested about 700 Hamas operatives since June
2007, about 150 of whom remain in detention. Over the last week, PA units
arrested four suspected EF commanders in the Bethlehem area.
In response, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum has called for a coup against
the PA in the West Bank. Barhoum has warned against a Middle East peace
conference in Washington in November and the prospect that PA Chairman
Mahmoud Abbas would be overthrown.
