The Reins of Palestinian Terrorism

For many moons now, I have been skeptical of the idea that Yasser Arafat is really behind terror attacks against Israelis. I find Arafat a corrupt strongman and highly ineffective leader, but can't firmly tie him into terrorism, despite the constant refrain "Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement" (which is also Abu Mazen's Fatah movement, actually). What's more, I have cited Israeli intelligence reports indicating that terrorist groups are taking their orders from the IRG through Hizbullah intermediaries.

So just to add another report supporting this idea, here is today's Haaretz. The key graft, citing Israeli officials discussing who is responsible for cease-fire violation:

"The armed militants who receive orders from Iran are members of local cells belonging to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, associated with PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah party, but they do not necessarily adhere to orders from the party's political leadership, and are more dependent on money and orders coming from Iran and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah organization, which is based in Lebanon."

This is why I remain skeptical that all Israel's actions against the PA really accomplished anything other than weakening the administration everyone wants to crack down on terrorism.