Jaljalat
Jaljalat (thunder) is an armed Salafist Islamist group operating in the Gaza Strip taking inspiration from al-Qaeda.[1] In September 2009, the organization revealed it had attempted to assassinate former US president Jimmy Carter and Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair.
Background
Mahmoud Taleb, also known by the kunya Abu Mutasem al-Maqdisi, is the leader of Jaljalat. A former commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, Taleb left Hamas and formed Jaljalat in opposition to Hamas' decision to participate in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections. Taleb is seeking to establish an Islamic "emirate" in the Gaza Strip and has been described as "the Palestinian Osama bin Laden."[2] The organization's ranks include dozens of other former Hamas militiamen who oppose any sort of cease-fire deal with Israel and what they perceive as Hamas' move to religious "moderation."[2][3]
Taleb has openly declared his organization's al-Qaeda inspiration: "We don't belong to al-Qaida organizationally, but we follow their ideology. We pray to Allah that we will become part of them. They are our brothers and it's our duty to support them." He further added that Jaljalat loyalists consider Osama bin Laden to be the "emir" and "guardian" of all Muslims.[2]
The organization has also openly criticized Hamas. In an interview with the Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayyam, Talib condemned Hamas, claiming it exploits Salafists groups such as his to fight Israel: "The Hamas movement has tried to gather the Salafist youth and channel their thinking towards fighting the (Israeli) occupation whenever they want and however they want in an unannounced way."[4]
Hamas officials have accused Jaljalat of perpetrating two bombing attacks outside government-controlled security institutions in Gaza City on 29 August 2009. The attacks, Hamas said, were carried out to avenge a recent crackdown on Jund Ansar Allah, another armed Salafist group operating in Gaza.[2]
Assassination plot
On 6 September 2009, the group revealed that it had attempted to assassinate former US president Jimmy Carter and Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair, calling the two "infidels" whose hands "are stained with Palestinian blood." The group also announced that it was planning to launch attacks on fellow militant Islamist group Hamas. Taleb disclosed that Hamas had foiled the plot and arrested those who attempted to carry it out. In response, Taleb has threatened that his members were preparing to launch attacks against Hamas.[2]
References
- ^ Spyer, Jonathan (19 August 2009). "Al-Qaida-style Islamism comes to Gaza". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b c d e Abu Toameh, Khaled (7 September 2009). "'We tried to kill Carter and Blair'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Still trying to go global". Haaretz. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
- ^ "Gaza clashes reveal Hamas's complex struggle with radicals". Agence France-Presse. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
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