Weekend long read

Despite the sadly ever-increasing topicality of the subject of ISIS terrorism in Europe, the BBC has shown remarkably little interest in informing its audiences of the collaboration between that terror organisation’s branch in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and Hamas.Weekend Read

The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre has produced an interesting report which touches on that issue as well as additional Egyptian allegations against Hamas and the current state of relations between the two. That report is available here.

The ITIC has also produced a report – available here – on the subject of Iranian funding for the families of Palestinian terrorists and the Palestinian Authority’s interesting response: a topic which the BBC ignored when it came to light last month.

Another benefactor of Iranian funding is of course Hizballah and one of the foremost experts on that terror organisation’s financing, Dr Matthew Levitt, recently gave testimony to the US Congress’ Foreign Affairs subcommittee.

“Increased Iranian spending in the wake of the Iran deal is likely to benefit Hezbollah’s regional and international operations. The group is no longer limited to jockeying for political power in Lebanon and fighting Israel. With more money, it should be expected to step up its aid to Shiite militias in Iraq and Yemen in cooperation with Iran, sending small numbers of skilled trainers to bolster local forces and, in some cases, fight alongside them. In Iraq, Hezbollah is training and fighting with Shiite militias, and that will likely expand. Though they are fighting on behalf of the government, their tactics exacerbate sectarian tensions. In Yemen, Hezbollah’s footprint is small, but it could expand with additional resources. The group is already trying to find long-term support for these operations, such as investments in commercial front organizations in Iraq.”

Dr Levitt’s full remarks are available here.

Egyptian journalist Ramy Aziz recently visited Israel for the first time.

“I met with both Arabs and Jews of Arab origin, and they recounted their memories of life in Iraq, Egypt, and the other countries from which they had come. I listened to how they had left those countries after bitter experiences of incitement and hatred. Life had brought them to a place where they peacefully coexisted. Unfortunately, the truth of coexistence has been muddled with the help of many media organizations.

In another repudiation of another false claim, my visits to places of worship were not stopped or barred from entry by either the Israeli army or police force, as they have been rumored to do, despite the escalating incitement and violence in the city. Life in the holy city goes on, filled with vitality during all hours of the night and day. It is a city that does not sleep, filled with people from all over the world.”

The full account of his trip can be found here.

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