Early this morning Fatah released a video on its official Facebook page celebrating the terror attack. During the video, a text appeared on the screen with three important messages:1. "The Al-Aqsa-Palestine [Martyrs’] Brigades is officially announcing its operations (i.e., terror attacks)”2. “The Fatah Movement takes responsibility for the operations of its military arm [the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades]”3. "The Fatah leadership announces that it has returned to the phase of the armed struggle (i.e., Fatah’s euphemism for terror)"The Al-Aqsa-Martyrs’ Brigades is an internationally designated terror organization. For years the United States, Europe, and other funders of the PA have tried to differentiate between Fatah which is headed by PA leader Mahmoud Abbas and its terror branch the Brigades. Palestinian Media Watch has argued all along that this differentiation is false and artificial. Now Fatah has officially confirmed that they are one organization, and Fatah is taking credit and responsibility for its murderous terror attacks.The third part of Fatah’s announcement is also significant. For years PMW has been reporting that Fatah regularly declares that the pause in "armed struggle" - its euphemism for terror - against Israel is temporary and that the phase of the “armed struggle” will return. Now Fatah has officially announced that it has returned to terror.
The signs have been there for a while. For example, in May, Fatah released a video called "Security Services By Day, Fedayeen By Night," glorifying members of the Palestinian security services who have been involved in terrorism, including in 2021.
The supposed separation between Fatah's "armed wing" and "political wing" has always been artificial. The Fatah political party platform, in force since 2009, explicitly supports terror, glorifying terror and the destruction of all of Israel.
The liberation of the homeland is the central axis of the Fatah Movement’s struggle...
The Palestinian people’s right to practice armed resistance against the military occupation of their land remains a constant right confirmed by international law and international legality.,,,Continued commitment to the culture of struggle, and the permanent readiness to engage in resisting the occupation, and sacrifice for the homeland. Continuous education through regular organizational meetings and training courses. The issuing of Fatah circulars, to continue mobilizing the cadres of the movement and masses with the heritage of the Palestinian armed struggle. Celebrating our battles, and commemorating the history of our struggle and the permanent readiness to sacrifice.
Fatah and the PA have been acting consistently with this published manifesto - which includes BDS and labeling Israel as "apartheid" - and yet I have not seen anyone besides me report on it.
The world and politicians and journalists and pundits like to pretend that Yasir Arafat agreed to end terrorism as a tactic in 1993. They ignore that he was behind the second intifada. They ignore the fact that Mahmoud Abbas never dismantled his party's terror wing. They ignore that Fatah says that killing Israelis is a legal right. And, today, they are ignoring the explicit support for terror that Abbas' Fatah is publishing on its own media.
Fatah, the dominant political party in the Palestinian Authority, states what its goals and tactics are. Explicitly. Anyone who pretends that this is a peaceful movement for a state in the territories is either ignorant - or complicit with their real goal of destroying Israel.
Fatah taking credit for terror is not a change in their philosophy or strategy. It is entirely consistent with what they have been saying and doing for years - but no one wants to listen.
(h/t Ibn Boutros)
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