This is The Prophecy. The Prophecy is much more than seeing into the future. For The Prophecy sees without the limits of time. For The Prophecy sees what is, what was, and what always shall be.
By Meteorologist Dominic Ramunni Nationwide PUBLISHED 7:13 PM ET Aug. 11, 2020 PUBLISHED 7:13 PM EDT Aug. 11, 2020
People across the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic were shaken, literally, on a Sunday morning as a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck in North Carolina on August 9, 2020.
Centered in Sparta, NC, the tremor knocked groceries off shelves and left many wondering just when the next big one could strike.
Fault Lines
Compared to the West Coast, there are far fewer fault lines in the East. This is why earthquakes in the East are relatively uncommon and weaker in magnitude.
That said, earthquakes still occur in the East.
According to Spectrum News Meteorologist Matthew East, “Earthquakes have occurred in every eastern U.S. state, and a majority of states have recorded damaging earthquakes. However, they are pretty rare. For instance, the Sparta earthquake Sunday was the strongest in North Carolina in over 100 years.”
For example, across the Tennesse River Valley lies the New Madrid Fault Line. While much smaller in size than those found farther west, the fault has managed to produce several earthquakes over magnitude 7.0 in the last couple hundred years.
In 1886, an estimated magnitude 7.0 struck Charleston, South Carolina along a previously unknown seismic zone. Nearly the entire town had to be rebuilt.
Vulnerabilities
The eastern half of the U.S. has its own set of vulnerabilities from earthquakes.
These older rocks have had much more time to bond together with other rocks under the tremendous pressure of Earth’s crust. This allows seismic energy to transfer between rocks more efficiently during an earthquake, causing the shaking to be felt much further.
This is why, during the latest quake in North Carolina, impacts were felt not just across the state, but reports of shaking came as far as Atlanta, Georgia, nearly 300 miles away.
Reports of shaking from different earthquakes of similar magnitude.
Quakes in the East can also be more damaging to infrastructure than in the West. This is generally due to the older buildings found east. Architects in the early-to-mid 1900s simply were not accounting for earthquakes in their designs for cities along the East Coast.
When a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Virginia in 2011, not only were numerous historical monuments in Washington, D.C. damaged, shaking was reported up and down the East Coast with tremors even reported in Canada.
Unpredictable
There is no way to accurately predict when or where an earthquake may strike.
Some quakes will have a smaller earthquake precede the primary one. This is called a foreshock.
The problem is though, it’s difficult to say whether the foreshock is in fact a foreshock and not the primary earthquake. Only time will tell the difference.
The United State Geological Survey (USGS) is experimenting with early warning detection systems in the West Coast.
While this system cannot predict earthquakes before they occur, they can provide warning up to tens of seconds in advance that shaking is imminent. This could provide just enough time to find a secure location before the tremors begin.
Much like hurricanes, tornadoes, or snowstorms, earthquakes are a natural occuring phenomenon that we can prepare for.
The USGS provides an abundance of resources on how to best stay safe when the earth starts to quake.
Chinese and Russian envoys expressed their solemn stance against the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia at the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on Friday.Wang Qun (R), Chinese envoy to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, and Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, attend a press conference on the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and related non-proliferation issues in Vienna, Austria, Nov. 26, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
The board set up a new agenda suggested by China, and for the first time dedicated discussions on the “Transfer of nuclear materials in the context of AUKUS and its safeguards in all aspects under the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons).”
The trilateral nuclear submarine deal “endangered the international non-proliferation mechanism and global strategic balance and stability, as well as the post-war international security order,” stated Wang Qun, Chinese envoy to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, and Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, at a joint press conference after the meeting.
AUKUS nuclear submarine deal intensified regional tensions and increased the risk of an arms race, and “Russia is deeply concerned about this,” said Ulyanov.
At present, all U.S. nuclear submarines use weapon-grade highly-enriched uranium. If the trilateral nuclear submarine cooperation is to proceed, Australia will obtain a large amount of weapon-grade nuclear materials, which will seriously impact the international nuclear non-proliferation system, Ulyanov said.
The United States, the United Kingdom and Australia concealed the progress of nuclear submarine cooperation from the international community, which is extremely non-transparent, Ulyanov stressed, adding that the three must report the relevant situation in a timely manner.
Wang emphasized that in September, after the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia announced the establishment of AUKUS, under which the United States and the United Kingdom will assist Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out that the trilateral deal will give rise to “five dangers” and “three risks,” affecting non-proliferation regime, regional security and strategic stability, which was widely echoed by the international community.
The three countries draw lines with ideology and create new military blocs, and will exacerbate geographical tensions, said Wang, adding that, at a time when the international community generally opposed the Cold War and division, the United States flagrantly violated its policy of not engaging in a new Cold War, organized an Anglo-Saxon “small circle” and placed its geopolitical interests above international solidarity — a typical Cold War mentality.
This move will stimulate regional countries to step up their military development, and even seek to break through the nuclear threshold, pushing up the risk of military conflicts, which China firmly opposes, he stressed.
Wang pointed out that AUKUS has huge hidden dangers and serious harm. “From the perspective of non-proliferation, it is a sheer proliferation act.”
The key to AUKUS is the transfer of tons of nuclear weapons materials by the two nuclear-weapon states, the United States, the United Kingdom, to Australia, a non-nuclear-weapon state, which obviously violates the purpose of the NPT, he explained.
So far, the three countries have always avoided this basic fact, and even tried to confuse the public. AUKUS is a big trouble for the IAEA’s safeguard arrangements and must be corrected, he said, adding that the international security is threatened unless AUKUS is stopped.
Wang said that the IAEA Board of Governors on Wednesday decided to set up a new agenda item on AUKUS, starting the intergovernmental discussion process, which is the right step towards a proper solution of the issue.
The move fully reflects the serious concerns of the Board Members on the trilateral deal, shows that the matter goes beyond the existing mandate of the IAEA’s secretariat, and that member states must jointly explore and seek solutions through an intergovernmental process, he added.
China has already proposed the establishment of a special committee that all member states can participate in, continue to have in-depth discussions on this issue, and submit reports to the Board and conference, Wang said.
Until the parties reach a consensus, the three shall not carry out nuclear submarine-related cooperation, and the agency secretariat shall not negotiate with the three on safeguards arrangements for the trilateral deal, Wang stressed.
The representatives of China and Russia also stated that they will closely follow the relevant trends of the trilateral deal, jointly maintain and continue to promote the relevant intergovernmental process initiated under the institutional framework, and work with all parties to defend the purpose of the NPT with practical actions, maintain the international nuclear non-proliferation system and jointly maintain global strategic stability and international peace and security
Putin has sparked fears of conflict as Russia begins production of a nuclear missile that is “too rapid to stop.”
PUTIN’S VLADIMIR Russia has prompted new fears of war as it begins mass manufacturing of “too quick to block” rapid hypersonic missiles. The 6670mph weapon, which can carry a conventional or nuclear warhead, has been dubbed “unstoppable” by Moscow. The missile was given the name Zircon by the Kremlin. “A serial manufacture of Zircon missiles is beginning at the NPO Mashinostroyenia [formerly known as OKB-52], while state trials of this product’s surface launches will continue,” a Russian source said. After two successful test launches, flight development testing of the Zircon hypersonic missile from an underwater carrier will begin in 2024 from the Project 885M (Yasen-M) modified nuclear-powered submarine Perm.
The Zircon is a multi-purpose hypersonic missile that can strike both sea and land targets.
President Putin previously stated that Zircon hypersonic missiles can travel at Mach 9 and have a range of 620 miles.
Russia plans to install Zircon hypersonic missile weapons on its submarines and surface ships.
The addition of Zircon to multiple ships and submarines might considerably improve the Russian Navy’s overall capability.
Such missiles are concerning because typical early warning systems in the United States may not be able to detect them.
Hypersonic weapons, such as Russia’s 3M22 Zircon, travel at such a high speed and low altitude that they can pierce typical anti-missile defenses.
In reality, the weapon moves so quickly that the air pressure in front of it generates a plasma cloud, which absorbs radio frequencies and renders it virtually invisible to active radar systems.
In order to intercept incoming threats, the US Aegis missile interceptor systems require 8-10 seconds of reaction time.
The Russian Zircon missiles will have already traveled 14 miles in those 8-10 seconds, and the interceptor missiles will not be able to catch up.
Even if a US ship detected a Zircon missile from 100 miles away, it would only have one minute to respond, according to one technical source.
Russia’s move to hypersonic weapons is most likely a response to the United States’ size, technology, and sheer number of aircraft carriers.
China and North Korea have also conducted such tests, igniting an arms race in the region and sending a message to both friends and foes around the world.
Last month, Russia’s deputy prime minister, Yury Borisov, stated that Russia has surpassed the West. “Brinkwire News Summary.”
The nexus between fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and terrorist organisations and the black market for nuclear arms for Pakistan nuclear scientist AQ Khan had become the source of concern in the US Senate hearings in 2009 after the Mumbai attacks of 26/11.
New Delhi: The nexus between fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and terrorist organisations and the black market for nuclear arms for Pakistan nuclear scientist AQ Khan had become the source of concern in the US Senate hearings in 2009 after the Mumbai attacks of 26/11.
During the hearings at that time on the lessons from Mumbai attacks for the United States, Senator John McCain asked what is the danger that the terrorist organisations within Pakistan might be able to obtain the nuclear weapons that we all know Pakistan has.
“When we look at the nexus in Pakistan between organized crime figures like Dawood Ibrahim and terrorist organizations, and we look at the black markets that were created to support Pakistan’s own nuclear program through A.Q. Khan, I mean, this is a set of connections between organized crime, government authorities, and terrorist organizations that does raise the spectre of the possibility of large-scale finance and real concerns if they move into weapons of mass destruction,” he added.
“I don’t want to exaggerate the threat because I still do believe that terrorists get a tremendous amount of mileage out of doing low-tech things without attempting to do some of the more technologically challenging things, and the Mumbai attack was, as I mentioned before, an example of basically small-unit infantry tactics that paralyzed a city of 20 million people for the better part of 3 days,” he added.
On Pakistan’s response to rein in terrorists, experts said, moreover, we do have the reality that the civilian elected government’s authority over the Pakistan military and intelligence services is limited.
“So we can keep on pressing them, as we should, but I think we have to accept that this is going to be a long-term diplomatic slog before we really can enlist Pakistan as being fully cooperative against terrorism,” he added.
“And, by the way, the problem did not begin with this government or even the previous government. It was recognized by the National Commission on Terrorism in 1999 and 2000 that Pakistan was not fully cooperating against terrorism,” experts added.
On cooperation not forthcoming from the Pakistani government or military, experts said: “Pakistan has been somewhat schizophrenic. At times, it has tried to make deals in some of these turbulent areas and negotiate ceasefires. That hasn’t worked. At times, it has gone in with military force, and its own forces haven’t fared well. I think we can do a lot more in terms of creating with military assistance some new relationships and a long-term effort to create some new capabilities. We have put billions of dollars into this and it is slow going,” experts said.
Former Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. (res.) Eitan Dangot says the terrorist group ruling the Gaza Strip “has not budged from its ideological commitment to Israel’s destruction.”
The large-scale Hamas terror plot uncovered by the Shin Bet intelligence agency and broken up in recent weeks is “the most dangerous tactical-operational infrastructure I recall in recent years,” a senior former defense official told JNS.
Maj. Gen. (res.) Eitan Dangot, Israel’s former Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories and a senior research associate at the Miryam Institute, emphasized the dozens of Hamas operatives arrested, in addition to the number of suicide-bomb vests and weapons recovered in counter-terror raids.
The Israel Security Agency, commonly known as the Shin Bet, announced on Monday that it had, together with the IDF, broken up the cell, which was being orchestrated by senior Hamas operatives overseas, including Deputy Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri, who heads the groups’ terrorist operations in the West Bank.
Dangot linked the development to cracks that have appeared in the rule of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority and its 86-year-old leader, Mahmoud Abbas.
He pointed out Hebron and its environment as a known ideological Hamas stronghold, and a Hamas activity hotspot, but added that Jenin and its environment have seen a spike of armed activity as well. The area is traditionally a Palestinian Islamic Jihad hotspot but also known for its opposition to Abbas’s rule from Fatah-affiliated militias like the Tanzim, stated Dangot.
“Hamas hasn’t budged one iota from its ideological commitment to Israel’s destruction, andhttps://andrewtheprophet.com it is implementing this gradually,” said Dangot. “Its military wing is building up force, and engages in rounds of fighting, like May’s conflict. Due to organizational problems, and secondary considerations created by Hamas’ sovereign rule over a population, the organization also opts for periods of calm, in line with its analysis of its interests at any given time.”
With Hamas’ home turf of Gaza facing limitations as a base for war with Israel, Hamas has reserved a strategic role for the West Bank, said Dangot. Beyond using it as a base for terror attacks targeting Israeli civilians and security forces, Hamas is committed to expanding its influence in the areas currently under P.A. rule, “step by step,” with the “objective of taking over the West Bank gradually and infiltrating the PLO,” he said.
Dangot argued that hints of the day after Abbas’s era have already appeared ever since Abbas called elections in January this year and that these hints were “greatly amplified when Abbas called off the elections” at the end of April.
As a “sub-objective,” Hamas has marked out eastern Jerusalem as a branch for its terrorist activities, and the organization is continuously lighting “flames and instigating situations via Jerusalem residents, safeguarding the lava and ensuring that the flames never extinguish,” he assessed.
This includes clashes at the Temple Mount, exploiting tensions around the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and strengthening the movement’s presence in eastern Jerusalem. These activities are all designed to signal to Palestinians that Hamas is looking after their interests and looking out for Jerusalem – a cause that forms a core aspect of Hamas’ call to arms, according to Dangot.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and the group’s military leader Yahya Sinwar (EPA/File)
Meanwhile, the West Bank is experiencing a weakening of law and order, which is “strengthening Hamas’ capabilities,” he said. “Hamas identifies this trend and expands its influence, through incitement, through Al-Arouri’s activities, through the allocation of resources. Hamas in Gaza plays the ‘arrangement game,’ ” said Dangot, referring to ongoing Egyptian-mediated talks to reach a more stable truce with Israel and find solutions for Gaza’s shattered economy.
“This is an illusion. I call this a temporary ceasefire at best. Hamas understands that it needs to lower its head vis-à-vis Egypt and Qatar as it waits for the next opportunity,” he warned.
In addition, he said that the rioting that occurred in Israel during the May conflict represents “the most urgent problem that Israel must take care of – sovereignty and disturbances within its borders.”
Dangot said that a “small but problematic part of the Arab-Israeli sector” exploited tensions, and saw a combination of criminal and nationalistic motives come together for unprecedented levels of violence inside Israel.
This is a more alarming situation than security challenges in the West Bank, he said, since in the latter arena, Israel maintains strong intelligence coverage and is able to effectively activate its force while sharing the common interest of stability with the PA.
Internally, on the other hand, hostile elements are attempting to send arms into the Arab-Israeli sector, including from radical Shi’ite sources from Syria and Iraq, via Jordan and the West Bank into Israel.
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“This requires a new strategic concept and building an appropriate force; in this case, a national guard with adequate resources,” he continued. “Structural changes should be made to the Israel Police as well with the Southern District divided into two new districts. A peripheral district would receive small, rapid response forces, while greater forces could be focused around the city of Beersheva. This requires immediate attention. Even the Home Front Command’s units can be transferred to a national guard.”
Israel must not accept divisions between Hamas in Gaza and other arenas, such as the West Bank and overseas, he argued.
“Hence, Israel has to respond. It must demonstrate how Hamas in Gaza, Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar is orchestrating terrorism, and take action against those who do so. This includes targeted strikes and strikes on weapons storage centers,” said Dangot.
He added that “we must not fear that this will upset the quiet in Gaza. What have we gotten from this quiet? It has not stopped Hamas’ force build-up. We are in a situation in which Hamas has much to lose with Egypt; hence, it will count to three before acting.”
Chinese hypersonic missile capabilities discussed by Nikolai Sokov
The Dong Feng 17 or DF-17, which is launched from land, can reach speeds of 7,680mph (ten times the speed of sound), and has a range of up to 1,600 miles. Wu Qian, a spokesman for China’s defence ministry, said Beijing had commissioned both the D17 and the DF-26, an intermediate range ballistic missile with a range of more than 3,000 miles, “in large numbers”.
China announced the DF-17 two years ago with a four-minute clip of what it called the “blindingly fast and unstoppable” missile capable of evading all existing anti-missile shields.
The DF-17, which includes a hypersonic glide vehicle, can be fitted with a nuclear warhead.
Additionally, China, led by President Xi Jinping, is also working on another missile, the DF-27, which will have a range up to 5,000 miles, potentially putting the US State of Hawaii within range.
Military analyst Malcolm Davis, writing for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the DF-17 had been highlighted in the US Department of Defense’s 2021 China military power report, published earlier this year.
Mr Davis said: “China’s expanding nuclear arsenal and the growing concern that Beijing is moving towards a launch-on-warning posture, together with the potential for a sub-strategic and tactical capacity, are raising questions about whether it is also shifting from its traditional ‘no first use’ posture.
“The report notes that China’s no-first-use policy is declaratory and suggests that ‘there is some ambiguity about conditions where it would no longer apply’.
“It states, ‘The PRC’s lack of transparency regarding the scope and scale of its nuclear modernisation program … raises questions regarding its future intent as it fields larger, more capable nuclear forces.’”
Mr Davis added: “These developments matter in terms of timing, not just in relation to an anticipated crisis over Taiwan, but also because the Biden administration is considering the possibility of adopting a no-first-use or ‘sole purpose’ declaration as part of its 2022 nuclear posture review.
“The administration should consider the implications of doing so for allies concerned about US leadership and for deterrence more broadly.
“China is moving to rapidly break out of its traditional minimum deterrence posture and could be planning to use its nuclear forces as a shield behind which it would feel free to employ conventional forces in a future crisis.”
The latest revelations come at a time of escalating tensions over both Taiwan and the South China Sea, both of which China claims sovereignty over.
One expert suggested Beijing was building mock-up targets of US aircraft carriers in order to help troops train for real-life operations.
Speaking to the Sun, Sam Armstrong, of the Henry Jackson Society, said: “These are working models that are ready to be deployed as a training exercise for a real-life operation against western forces.
“You don’t build a training model of an aircraft carrier unless you’re planning to run a bombing raid on an aircraft carrier.”
Pictures have suggested China has built missile targets in the desert based on at least two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers and a US carrier.
Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, added: “I don’t think the desert targets are going to be the final stage. It’s meant for further refinement.”
The Palestinian Authority drew sharp criticism for its crackdown on Hamas and other faction members, which it stepped up recently.
The Palestinian Authority has stepped up its security crackdown on members of Hamas and other Palestinian factions in the West Bank, drawing sharp criticism from the groups, political activists and human rights organizations.
A PA official in Ramallah said that the security measures were designed to “enforce law and order” and “prevent attempts by thugs and armed gangs to undermine the Palestinian Authority and disturb the peace.”
The official dismissed accusations that the PA leadership was exploiting the security crackdown to target political rivals and silence critics.
In the past week, PA security officers prevented Hamas, PIJ and PFLP supporters from carrying their flags and banners in public. The officers also arrested several Hamas and PIJ members in different parts of the West Bank.
Palestinian demonstrators attend an anti-Palestinian Authority protest in Ramallah last month. (credit: MOHAMAD TOROKMAN/REUTERS)
On Friday, PA plainclothes security officers intercepted a funeral procession in Bethlehem and confiscated flags and banners belonging to the three groups.
The incident took place during the funeral of 14-year-old Amjad Abu Sultan, who was killed by IDF soldiers last month as he was trying to throw a Molotov cocktail at Israeli vehicles from an area that overlooks Route 60. His body was handed over to the Palestinians last week.
On Thursday, PA security officers raided the town of Tammun in the Jenin area and confiscated PIJ banners during a reception held by the group for Azmi Bani Odeh, a local resident who had just been released from Israeli prison.
Odeh was arrested by Israeli authorities shortly after his brother, Saddam, was killed during a clash with IDF soldiers. Saddam, 26, was known as a leading PIJ activist.EARLIER LAST week, PA security officers attacked a number of Palestinians during a reception in Ramallah for Mu’tasem Zaloum, a Hamas member who was also released from Israeli prison. The officers confiscated Hamas flags and summoned several participants for interrogation. They also used tear gas to disperse the Hamas supporters.
A similar incident took place in the village of Bala’ah, near Tulkarm, where Palestinian security forces prevented residents from holding a reception for Hani Barabrah, another Hamas activist released from Israeli prison.
Sources in the village said that the PA security officers confiscated also Hamas flags, and arrested a number of residents who participated in the celebration.
The decision to ban flags and banners belonging to Hamas, PIJ and PFLP came after the recent mass funeral held in Jenin for Wasfi Kabaha, a senior Hamas official who died of coronavirus earlier this month.
The participation of Hamas and PIJ masked gunmen in the funeral was seen as a huge embarrassment for, and a direct challenge to, the PA’s leadership.
In response, PA President Mahmoud Abbas decided to replace the commanders of the various branches of the Palestinian security forces in the Jenin area.
Abbas is also reported to have issued strict instructions to the PA security forces to ban all public events held by Hamas, PIJ and other groups that are not affiliated with his ruling Fatah faction.
In addition, more than 50 Palestinians were summoned for interrogation by the security forces, especially in the northern West Bank.
Hamas condemned the PA crackdown, dubbing it a “national and moral crime.”
Referring to the PA ban on public events, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that such actions by the Palestinian security forces “only serve the occupation.” He pointed out that the PA crackdown coincided with an increase in “the Zionist aggression against Palestinians” in the West Bank. “Instead of targeting Palestinian factions and preventing them from holding activities, the Palestinian Authority should be defending Palestinians,” Qassem said in a statement.
HUSSEIN ABU KWEIK, a senior Hamas official from Ramallah, condemned the PA for targeting events to celebrate the release of Palestinians from Israeli prison. “This behavior violates Palestinian values that respect the prisoners and glorify their struggle,” he said.
The targeting of Hamas members and its banners will not “discourage the movement from continuing with its honorable path of resistance and pursuit of national unity,” Abu Kwiek added.
PIJ said in a statement that the “abduction of our activists by the Palestinian security forces in Jenin is an unpatriotic and immoral act.” The group also claimed that the PA crackdown was intended “to serve the occupation.”
Commenting on the incident during the funeral in Bethlehem, the PFLP accused the PA security forces of carrying out a “brutal assault” on the mourners.
“What happened confirms that the security forces have not learned lessons from their assaults on public freedoms and that they insist on proceeding with their repressive measures,” the PFLP said in a statement. “The attack on the funeral represents a dangerous shift in the practices of the Palestinian security services, which requires the prosecution of those involved in it and of those who gave the orders.”
The Palestinian Lawyers for Justice group also lashed out at the PA.
“Lawyers for Justice denounces the scenes of suppression of freedoms and the prosecution of activists and citizens on the basis of their political affiliation,” the group said, referring to the ongoing trial of dozens of political activists and academics accused of protesting the killing of anti-corruption activist Nizar Banat, a resident of Hebron, who was beaten to death by PA security officers in late June.
The group pointed out that the authority’s recent measures, including the confiscation of flags and banners, were in violation of a “presidential decree” issued by Abbas earlier this year. The decree, which came ahead of the planned general elections, called for “boosting public freedoms in all the territories of the State of Palestine, including the freedom of political and national action.”
The Palestinian Authority has stepped up its security crackdown on members of Hamas and other Palestinian factions in the West Bank, drawing sharp criticism from the groups, political activists and human rights organizations.
In separate statements, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), whose members are the prime targets of the ongoing clampdown, called for an end to the measures taken by the PA security forces.
A PA official in Ramallah said that the security measures were designed to “enforce law and order” and “prevent attempts by thugs and armed gangs to undermine the Palestinian Authority and disturb the peace.”
The official dismissed accusations that the PA leadership was exploiting the security crackdown to target political rivals and silence critics.
In the past week, PA security officers prevented Hamas, PIJ and PFLP supporters from carrying their flags and banners in public. The officers also arrested several Hamas and PIJ members in different parts of the West Bank.
Palestinian demonstrators attend an anti-Palestinian Authority protest in Ramallah last month. (credit: MOHAMAD TOROKMAN/REUTERS)
On Friday, PA plainclothes security officers intercepted a funeral procession in Bethlehem and confiscated flags and banners belonging to the three groups.
The incident took place during the funeral of 14-year-old Amjad Abu Sultan, who was killed by IDF soldiers last month as he was trying to throw a Molotov cocktail at Israeli vehicles from an area that overlooks Route 60. His body was handed over to the Palestinians last week.
On Thursday, PA security officers raided the town of Tammun in the Jenin area and confiscated PIJ banners during a reception held by the group for Azmi Bani Odeh, a local resident who had just been released from Israeli prison.
Odeh was arrested by Israeli authorities shortly after his brother, Saddam, was killed during a clash with IDF soldiers. Saddam, 26, was known as a leading PIJ activist.EARLIER LAST week, PA security officers attacked a number of Palestinians during a reception in Ramallah for Mu’tasem Zaloum, a Hamas member who was also released from Israeli prison. The officers confiscated Hamas flags and summoned several participants for interrogation. They also used tear gas to disperse the Hamas supporters.
A similar incident took place in the village of Bala’ah, near Tulkarm, where Palestinian security forces prevented residents from holding a reception for Hani Barabrah, another Hamas activist released from Israeli prison.
Sources in the village said that the PA security officers confiscated also Hamas flags, and arrested a number of residents who participated in the celebration.
The decision to ban flags and banners belonging to Hamas, PIJ and PFLP came after the recent mass funeral held in Jenin for Wasfi Kabaha, a senior Hamas official who died of coronavirus earlier this month.
The participation of Hamas and PIJ masked gunmen in the funeral was seen as a huge embarrassment for, and a direct challenge to, the PA’s leadership.
In response, PA President Mahmoud Abbas decided to replace the commanders of the various branches of the Palestinian security forces in the Jenin area.
Abbas is also reported to have issued strict instructions to the PA security forces to ban all public events held by Hamas, PIJ and other groups that are not affiliated with his ruling Fatah faction.
According to Palestinian sources, at least 65 Palestinians have been detained by the PA security forces in the past two weeks. Most of the detainees are suspected of being affiliated with Hamas and PIJ, the sources said.
In addition, more than 50 Palestinians were summoned for interrogation by the security forces, especially in the northern West Bank.
Hamas condemned the PA crackdown, dubbing it a “national and moral crime.”
Referring to the PA ban on public events, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that such actions by the Palestinian security forces “only serve the occupation.” He pointed out that the PA crackdown coincided with an increase in “the Zionist aggression against Palestinians” in the West Bank. “Instead of targeting Palestinian factions and preventing them from holding activities, the Palestinian Authority should be defending Palestinians,” Qassem said in a statement.
HUSSEIN ABU KWEIK, a senior Hamas official from Ramallah, condemned the PA for targeting events to celebrate the release of Palestinians from Israeli prison. “This behavior violates Palestinian values that respect the prisoners and glorify their struggle,” he said.
The targeting of Hamas members and its banners will not “discourage the movement from continuing with its honorable path of resistance and pursuit of national unity,” Abu Kwiek added.
PIJ said in a statement that the “abduction of our activists by the Palestinian security forces in Jenin is an unpatriotic and immoral act.” The group also claimed that the PA crackdown was intended “to serve the occupation.”
Commenting on the incident during the funeral in Bethlehem, the PFLP accused the PA security forces of carrying out a “brutal assault” on the mourners.
“What happened confirms that the security forces have not learned lessons from their assaults on public freedoms and that they insist on proceeding with their repressive measures,” the PFLP said in a statement. “The attack on the funeral represents a dangerous shift in the practices of the Palestinian security services, which requires the prosecution of those involved in it and of those who gave the orders.”
The Palestinian Lawyers for Justice group also lashed out at the PA.
“Lawyers for Justice denounces the scenes of suppression of freedoms and the prosecution of activists and citizens on the basis of their political affiliation,” the group said, referring to the ongoing trial of dozens of political activists and academics accused of protesting the killing of anti-corruption activist Nizar Banat, a resident of Hebron, who was beaten to death by PA security officers in late June.
The group pointed out that the authority’s recent measures, including the confiscation of flags and banners, were in violation of a “presidential decree” issued by Abbas earlier this year. The decree, which came ahead of the planned general elections, called for “boosting public freedoms in all the territories of the State of Palestine, including the freedom of political and national action.”
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