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**Team Sergeant** · 10-01-2009, 21:22

OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

NAME: Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade

DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 2000

GOALS: Drive the Israeli military and people from the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem and establish a Palestinian state.

MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: At least five U.S. citizens have been killed in attacks, but probably not because of their citizenship. The group mainly targets Israeli military personnel and civilians.

STRENGTH: Unknown.

OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Mainly in the West Bank, but has also claimed responsibility for attacks inside Israel and the Gaza Strip.

AFFILIATIONS: Unknown.

COMMENTS: Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is composed of cells of Fatah-affiliated activists that emerged with the onset of the intifadah in 2000. In January 2002, an al-Aqsa member became the first female suicide bomber in the intifadah. The group was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on March 27, 2002.

NAME: Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP)

DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 1969.

GOALS: Achieve Palestinian national goals through revolution of the masses.

MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: None.

STRENGTH: 500.

OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Syria, Lebanon, and the Israeli-occupied territories.

AFFILIATIONS: One of the two factions joined with other rejectionist groups to form the Alliances of Palestinian Forces (APF), but broke it off. Has made limited moves toward merging with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) since the mid-1990s. Receives limited financial and military aid from Syria.

COMMENTS: Marxist-Leninist organization founded when it split from the PFLP. Opposed the Israel-PLO peace agreement.

NAME: HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)

DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 1987.

GOALS: Establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel.

MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: Unknown.

STRENGTH: Unknown number of hard-core members; tens of thousands of supporters and sympathizers.

OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Primarily the occupied territories, Israel. In August 1999, Jordanian authorities closed the group's Political Bureau offices in Amman, arrested its leaders, and prohibited the group from operating on Jordanian territory.

AFFILIATIONS: Receives funding from Palestinian expatriates, Iran, and private benefactors in Saudi Arabia and other moderate Arab states. Some fundraising and propaganda activities take place in Western Europe and North America.

COMMENTS: Formed as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Various HAMAS elements have used both political and violent means, including terrorism. Loosely structured, with some elements working clandestinely and others working openly through mosques and social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, organize activities, and distribute propaganda. Also has engaged in peaceful political activity, such as running candidates in West Bank Chamber of Commerce elections. A Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listed as "active" during 2000.

NAME: The Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 1970s.

GOALS: The creation of an Islamic Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel through holy war.

MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: Because of its strong support for Israel, the United States has been identified as an enemy of the PIJ, but the group has not specifically conducted attacks against U.S. interests in the past. In July 2000, however, publicly threatened to attack U.S. interests if the U.S. Embassy is moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

STRENGTH: Unknown.

OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Primarily Israel and the occupied territories and other parts of the Middle East, including Jordan and Lebanon. Headquartered in Syria.

AFFILIATIONS: Receives financial assistance from Iran and limited logistic assistance from Syria.

COMMENTS: Originated among militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the 1970s. Also opposes moderate Arab governments that it believes have been tainted by Western secularism. A Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listed as "active" during 2000.

10-01-2009, 21:22	#52
Team Sergeant Quiet Professional Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 20,929	OCCUPIED TERRITORIES NAME: Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 2000 GOALS: Drive the Israeli military and people from the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem and establish a Palestinian state. MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: At least five U.S. citizens have been killed in attacks, but probably not because of their citizenship. The group mainly targets Israeli military personnel and civilians. STRENGTH: Unknown. OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Mainly in the West Bank, but has also claimed responsibility for attacks inside Israel and the Gaza Strip. AFFILIATIONS: Unknown. COMMENTS: Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is composed of cells of Fatah-affiliated activists that emerged with the onset of the intifadah in 2000. In January 2002, an al-Aqsa member became the first female suicide bomber in the intifadah. The group was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on March 27, 2002. NAME: Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 1969. GOALS: Achieve Palestinian national goals through revolution of the masses. MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: None. STRENGTH: 500. OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Syria, Lebanon, and the Israeli-occupied territories. AFFILIATIONS: One of the two factions joined with other rejectionist groups to form the Alliances of Palestinian Forces (APF), but broke it off. Has made limited moves toward merging with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) since the mid-1990s. Receives limited financial and military aid from Syria. COMMENTS: Marxist-Leninist organization founded when it split from the PFLP. Opposed the Israel-PLO peace agreement. NAME: HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement) DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 1987. GOALS: Establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: Unknown. STRENGTH: Unknown number of hard-core members; tens of thousands of supporters and sympathizers. OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Primarily the occupied territories, Israel. In August 1999, Jordanian authorities closed the group's Political Bureau offices in Amman, arrested its leaders, and prohibited the group from operating on Jordanian territory. AFFILIATIONS: Receives funding from Palestinian expatriates, Iran, and private benefactors in Saudi Arabia and other moderate Arab states. Some fundraising and propaganda activities take place in Western Europe and North America. COMMENTS: Formed as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Various HAMAS elements have used both political and violent means, including terrorism. Loosely structured, with some elements working clandestinely and others working openly through mosques and social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, organize activities, and distribute propaganda. Also has engaged in peaceful political activity, such as running candidates in West Bank Chamber of Commerce elections. A Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listed as "active" during 2000. NAME: The Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 1970s. GOALS: The creation of an Islamic Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel through holy war. MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: Because of its strong support for Israel, the United States has been identified as an enemy of the PIJ, but the group has not specifically conducted attacks against U.S. interests in the past. In July 2000, however, publicly threatened to attack U.S. interests if the U.S. Embassy is moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. STRENGTH: Unknown. OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Primarily Israel and the occupied territories and other parts of the Middle East, including Jordan and Lebanon. Headquartered in Syria. AFFILIATIONS: Receives financial assistance from Iran and limited logistic assistance from Syria. COMMENTS: Originated among militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the 1970s. Also opposes moderate Arab governments that it believes have been tainted by Western secularism. A Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listed as "active" during 2000. __________________ "The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy, but where they are."
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