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B Y S A M U E L S O K O L ,

I S R A E L C O R R E S P O N D E N T

Palestinian Authority president

Mahmoud Abbas declared this week that

the killers of 45-year-old Rabbi Meir

Avshalom Hai are Shahids [Martyrs] of

the Palestinian revolution.

The presidents personal representa-

tive, Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim, conveyed his

condolences to the families of the terror-

ists, affiliated with the banned Al-Aqsa

Martyrs Brigades organization, saying

that without doubt, what the occupa-

tion authorities have carried out is a wild

and barbaric act and a deliberate, mali-

cious assassination in cold blood.

The Bethlehem-based Maan news

agency reported that President Abbas

vowed to seek prosecution for Israelileaders he termed war criminals in

regard to operation Cast Lead, ignoring

the two recent attempted suicide bomb-

ings originating from territory which he

controlled.

Twenty thousand individuals, includ-

ing top PA officials, attended funerals for

the slain gunmen, who were reported in

the Arab press as having been assassinat-

edas they slept. The Fatah leader was

quoted as defining the killing of the terror-

ists as part of a policy of assassination.

After protests were made by PA offi-

cials and a public demand was made for

an investigation into Israels actions by

Btzelem, the United States contacted

National Security Adviser Prof. Uzi Arad

for clarification. Arad defended Israels

actions in killing the terrorists.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades was

affirmed as the armed wing of Fatah dur-

ing the movements 2009 convention in

Bethlehem. Brigades members are shel-

tered by and receive payment from PA

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who is

widely perceived as a moderate in west-

ern circles.

Abu Mahmoud, a senior commander

of Fatahs armed wing threatened that

suicide bombers would turn Israels

night to day in response to the killings.

In an official statement, the Brigades

declared, We wont stand around doingnothing and the blood of holy warriors

will not have been spilled in vain. The

enemy wont see anything from us

besides the language of blood and fire.

According to reports from the WAFA

news agency, PM Fayyad visited the

house of mourning for the terrorists,

accompanied by PA Police Director-

General Major General Hazem Atallah.

November was an extremely quiet

month in regards to terrorism, according

to figures published on the website of

Israels General Security Service (GSS).

However, on Monday, Israeli defense min-

ister Ehud Barak stated, We definitely see,

over the last two or three days, an awaken-

ing of terror activity in Judea and Samaria.

In December, Arabs from Judea and

Samaria attempted to infiltrate Israel in

order to carry out suicide attacks in

Jerusalem and Ashkelon.

PalestinianAuthority:Israel Opening For ItselfThe Gates Of Hell.

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On December 3, the IDF

spokesmans office related that

three explosive devices had

been found and neutralized in

Bet Ummar, southwest of

Bethlehem. A number of days

afterwards, two pipe bombs

were found on a PA resident at a

checkpoint near Jenin. A pipe

bomb was also discovered on a

road near Hebron and was deto-

nated by sappers.

There has also been a spate of

rock throwing attacks againstIsraeli vehicles. On December 25

a four-year-old girl was lightly

injured when a firebomb was

thrown at the car in which she

was riding, and a woman was

moderately injured by firebomb

hurled at a bus near Negohot

two days later.

The council of Jewish com-

munities of Judea and Samaria

(Yesha) issued a statement that

the murderous shooting attack

in Samaria is a direct result of

the policy of lifting restrictions

on the Palestinians, removing

necessary roadblocks in Judeaand Samaria, and transferring

the responsibility for security to

those whose ranks have pro-

duced many terrorists who mur-

dered Jews. As in similar inci-

dents in the past, once again the

gestures aimed at Abu Mazen

[Mahmoud Abbas] carry a price

tag of Jewish blood.

In a related development,

Israels Supreme Court decided

to open up route 443 in

Judea/Samaria to Arab traffic.

The road was originally closed

to Arabs at the outbreak of the

second intifada in light of

attacks on Jewish travelers.

The ruling is vexing to settle-

ment leaders; the court admit-

ted last year that the physical

safety of Jews using the road

would be compromised were

Palestinian Authority Arabs

given unrestricted access.

According to the IDF

spokesman, a roadside bomb

was uncovered as recently as

December 17 along route 443,

planted by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs

Brigades.

National Union parliamentar-

ian Uri Ariel blasted the court

decision, saying that it hasagain been proven that the secu-

rity of Israels citizens is worth

less than the comfort of travel

of the Palestinians in the eyes

of the Supreme Court.

Fatah members have indicat-

ed that there exists a possibility

of a third Intifada against the

Palestinian Authority, due to the

PAs security coordination with

Israel. The PAs military forces,

trained by American General

Keith Dayton, sometimes work

together with Israeli security

forces in Judea and Samaria.

Former GSS director Avi

Dichter told army radio that

while the PA security forces are

strong in fighting their rival

Hamas, they are lax in taking

action against Fatah forces.O