Al-Qaida-linked group in West Bank

JERUSALEM – Fatah al Islam, a Palestinian Lebanese group that boasts of connections to al-Qaida, will shortly open a branch in the West Bank to attack the U.S. and Israel, according to a pamphlet distributed yesterday that was obtained by WND.

"The U.S., the Zionists and their allies are in a war against Islam. We will soon take the war to them and hit them. Fatah al Islam is now opened in Nablus and in the West Bank," said the pamphlet, distributed in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

The pamphlet stated Fatah al Islam "in coming days" will hold a press conference in Nablus to announce the establishment of the group in the Palestinian territories.

Palestinian terror group leaders in Nablus claimed to WND their organizations were not working with Fatah al Islam.

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Nablus is a stronghold for major Palestinian terror groups, particularly Islamic Jihad, Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees.

Neither Israeli nor Palestinian security officials could immediately comment on the veracity of the statement.

Security officials associated with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah organization said they are working to ensure the claimed press conference is not held, explaining the formation of Fatah al Islam in the West Bank would be highly embarrassing for Fatah.

Abbas on numerous occasions has distanced himself from Fatah al Islam, which has been battling the Lebanese Army in the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian camp near Tripoli since last month, killing some 107 people, including 47 soldiers and 60 terrorists. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced from the Nahr camp.

The clashes erupted May 20, just before the U.N. was set to call for the establishment of an international tribunal to try the killers of Rafiq Hariri, Lebanon's former prime minister, who was killed in a massive car bomb attack in February 2005. Syria has been widely blamed for the assassination and for a string of attacks that have rocketed Lebanon ever since.

Following the Hariri assassination, Syria was pressured into removing its troops from Lebanon, which it had occupied for almost 30 years.

Fatah al Islam is a tiny group of well-trained Sunni extremists boasting of membership in al-Qaida. Israeli security officials and prominent pro-Democracy Lebanese officials say Fatah al Islam is heavily directed by Iran and Syria and is being used by Syria to foment instability in Lebanon.

The group surfaced in Lebanon last year and set up its base in Nahr al-Bared camp, which is known to host groups close to Syria, including the Fatah Uprising and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian-General Command, led by hardliner Ahmed Jebril.

The leader of Fatah al Islam said in a recent video message his group will fight Jews, Americans and their allies.

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