In February, we issued a communique on the media’s misrepresentation of the relationship between Yassir Arafat’s Fatah faction and the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade – one of the most deadly Palestinian terrorist groups. While the large media outlets were describing ‘loose ties’ between the two, the evidence clearly showed a direct and ongoing bond.
Now, Fatah is openly acknowledging that bond. The Jerusalem Post reports that a disagreement between the two groups has led Fatah to publically recognize its obligations to the AAMB. For their part, the AAMB is feeling abandoned by their sponsor:
“Thanks to us, Fatah restored its dignity and power during the intifada,” [an AAMB leader] added. “But now the members of the Fatah Central Council are putting pressure on us to disband. We don’t trust them any more and we tell them that they are the ones who must go.”
Given this acknowledgement, there is now even less justification for media distortions of the ties between Arafat’s dominant party and this terrorist gang. As we noted in February:
This is not merely a semantic matter. The close ties that bond the Fatah-led PA to terrorist groups are the fundamental problem that prevents progress toward peaceful reconciliation. The dominant political party in the PA remains a direct sponsor of ongoing terrorism ? the ruling politicians and the terrorists are one and the same.
If you see a news article that continues to describe mere ‘loose links’ between Fatah and the AAMB, please notify us at [email protected].
