1) At Israel HaYom, Meir Ben Shabbat discusses ‘The ‘Hezbollahization’ of Gaza’.
“Hamas emphasizes that its position on Gaza’s future rests on two principles. First, Gaza’s governance is an internal Palestinian matter requiring “national consensus” – a code for involving the Palestinian Authority while allowing Hamas to set conditions and demands. The second principle – “armed resistance to Israeli occupation is a right of all Palestinian people across all Palestinian land, not just Hamas’ right” – means Hamas not only opposes demilitarization of Gaza’s military capabilities but seeks legitimacy for building and operating them in other areas as well.”
2) The Alma Center reports on recent events in southern Syria.
“The new regime’s ability to control what is taking place in southern Syria and prevent the takeover of terrorist organizations on the Israeli border is doubtful. Much like in the case of Lebanon, Israel’s decision to remain in the buffer zone at several strategic points on the Syrian border is intended to enable Israel to thwart threats and protect the residents in the north of Israel. Israel cannot allow southern Syria to become a fertile ground for the activities of terrorist organizations (and their supporters in the region) as it did in southern Lebanon.”
3) At the JISS, Yossi Kuperwasser explains why ‘The Palestinian Authority’s ‘Pay-to-Slay’ Reform is a Sham’.
“Abbas’s maneuver has also been criticized by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and even by Qadoura Fares, head of the PA’s Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs. In response, Abbas promptly dismissed Fares and appointed Raed Arafat Abu Al-Humus—formerly in charge of the commission’s international relations—as his replacement. Notably, Abu Al-Humus sits on the board of trustees of the Institution for Economic Empowerment, which will now oversee payments to both imprisoned and released terrorists.”
4) MEMRI documents the Palestinian Authority’s portrayal of terrorists as ‘civilians’.
“As part of their counterterrorism operations in the West Bank, the Israeli security forces carry out airstrikes against concentrations of armed terrorists. Many of those killed in these attacks are members of terrorist organizations like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), whom the PA regards as mercenaries of the Iranian regime that is seeking to overthrow its rule in the West Bank. Despite this, in reporting their deaths the PA media consistently presents them as civilians and disregards their terrorist activities.”
5) WINEP provides an ‘Update on Houthi Involvement in Iraq’.
“The cessation of Houthi-Iraqi joint strikes on Israel does not mean that Houthi money-movers and trainers have gone home; more likely, they are now a permanent feature of Iraq and merit close scrutiny from counterterrorism analysts.”
