The "ARMY OF ISLAM" Claimed responsibility for abduction of British journalist Alan Johnston in Gaza

6. Sheikh Omar bin Mahmoud (some add Othman) Abu Omar, also known as Abu Qatada, a Jordanian national of Palestinian descent, is a fundamentalist Muslim cleric. Born in Bethlehem in 1960, he lived in Jordan until 1989 and left it probably to Afghanistan or Pakistan (it is possible that he was held prisoner in Jordan and was released as part of a general pardon granted at the time by King Abdallah II, or that he escaped from Jordan ). It appears that in the years 1989-1993, he was involved in Al-Qaeda's activities. In 1993, probably using a fake UAE passport, Abu Qatada came from Pakistan to Britain , where he sought political asylum. His request was approved about a year later.

7. During his stay in Britain , Abu Qatada gradually became one of the most significant ideological authorities of global jihad supporters, particularly of the Al-Qaeda organization. He published written materials, wrote in a publication called Al-Minhaj (“The System” or “The Modus Operandi”), disseminated his views by videotapes, and even expressed his support of global jihad on British media. Some of his tapes were found in Hamburg , Germany , in the room of Muhammad Atta, the leader of the terrorist group responsible for the September 11 terrorist attack. In an interview he granted, Abu Qatada admitted to financially supporting the Chechen separatists. In 2001, he was described by the Spanish investigating judge who examined the activities of the Al-Qaeda cell in Spain as “the spiritual leader of Al-Qaeda” (even though he denies it). Abu Qatada also openly expressed his unconditional support of the “resistance” (Palestinian terrorism) against Israel .

8. Abu Qatada is also suspected (and considered) to be a prominent theorist of North African Islamic terrorist organizations which act in Europe as well, particularly of the global jihad group in Jordan, where he was sentenced (in absentia) to a lifetime in prison. He was convicted of involvement in planning (thwarted) terrorist attacks against tourists who came to Jordan for the Millennium festivities (in 2000).

9. In October 2002, Abu Qatada was arrested by the British authorities for his support of global jihad, and was held in custody without a trial. He was released on bail in March 2005, but was arrested again in August 2005. His arrest without a trial for a long period of time was made possible thanks to changes made in British legislation to prevent terrorism, following the September 11 terrorist attacks and the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, 2005 . The British ruled that he “posed a threat to the national security” of Britain , in addition to accusing him of ties with global jihad. Therefore, he remains in custody in Britain to this day.

10. Following the July 2005 terrorist attacks in Britain , the British government signed several extradition agreements with some Middle Eastern countries, including Jordan . According to the agreements, Britain would extradite terrorists wanted in those countries, provided they are not tortured in prison following their extradition. One of those extradited was supposed to be Abu Qatada; however, his attorneys appealed the decision. In February 2007, Britain 's Special Immigration Appeals Committee (SIAC) approved his extradition to Jordan following a lengthy government debate. However, it seems that another appeal will be submitted to a higher legal authority. Until a final decision on the matter is made, Abu Qatada remains in custody in Britain .

Summary and assessment

11. If the announcement turns out to be authentic, and the British journalist is indeed held by The Army of Islam, it amounts therefore to a first-of-a-kind expression of the willingness of a Palestinian organization with radical Islamic ideology to take practical measures to promote global jihad goals that are not strictly Palestinian objectives (in this case, the release of global jihad operatives held in Britain and in the US). In our assessment, this kind of activity, whose goals go beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is a challenge not only to Fatah and Abu Mazen but also to the Hamas movement, which is harshly criticized by the Al-Qaeda leadership, attempting to gain a foothold in the Palestinian Authority- administered territories and, above all, in the Gaza Strip. ²

¹ The other two organizations are Hamas and the Popular Resistance Committees.

² For the past several months, the Hamas movement has been exchanging verbal blows with Ayman al-Zawahiri, Bin Laden's deputy, who has repeatedly lashed out at Hamas for abandoning “the path of jihad” and “selling Palestine ” for the benefits of power. Hamas spokesmen accused Al-Zawahiri that his views were a result of his ignorance of Palestinian reality. They claimed that he was encouraging Hamas operatives to undermine the organization's leadership in order to form a rift within Hamas, which would allow Al-Qaeda to gain a foothold in Palestine . They said they were certain it would fail (see, for example, the article of publicist Lamma Khater in the newspaper Felesteen, May 9, titled “Al-Zawahiri and the deceitful entry into Palestine ”).

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iran Hezbollah Hamas Terrorism Middle East Jihad