RAMALLAH — Iran has become a key player in the Fatah-Hamas militia
war in the Palestinian Authority.
Leading Hamas officials have been gathering in Damascus and Teheran to
discuss with Iranian officials the Hamas-led government and its war with
Fatah. Iran has been a leading contributor to Hamas's military
infrastructure.
"Iran receives a major part of its funding and weapons expertise from
Iran," a Western diplomatic source said. "All major decisions by Hamas are
first discussed with Iran."
[On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian who sought to cross
from the Gaza Strip into Israel, Middle East Newsline reported. Israel's military said the Palestinian was
wearing a suicide explosive belt.]
On Tuesday, PA Interior Minister Said Siyam has arrived in Teheran to
confer with Iranian officials on Palestinian security issues. Siyam said he
would also focus on attempts to expand PA relations with Iran.
Siyam said the situation within the PA was "abnormal." He said a
government should be established that would be represented by all factions.
The sources said Iran and Hizbullah have become a leading source of
military aid for Hamas. They said Teheran and the Shi'ite militia have been
smuggling weapons through Egypt's Sinai Peninsula to the Gaza Strip.
Iran has also been funding Fatah insurgency cells in the northern West
Bank. The sources said Teheran and Hizbullah have sought to increase funding
in an effort to intensify the insurgency campaign against Israel from the
West Bank.
Teheran's entry in the Fatah-Hamas dispute comes in wake of Qatar's
failure to mediate an end to the militia war. The mediation took place
during the visit to Ramallah by Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad Bin Jassem Al
Thani, who held talks with Palestinian factions on Oct. 9-10 in an effort to
reach agreement on a national unity government.
"The opportunity has unfortunately vanished," Nabil Amr, an adviser to
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, said.
