Al-Qaeda, which has been established by Osama Bin Laden back in the late 1980s, was, originally, supposed to fight Afghanistan against the Soviet invasion. After accomplishing a victory over the Soviet invaders it aimed at becoming a worldwide network to overthrow non-Islamic regimes, and expel Westerners and non-Muslims from Islamic lands.
Now, following the constant U.S. bombardments on the Afghanistan al-Qaeda bases, Bin Laden’s combatants have been spreading out to other new destinations, including the Middle East. In the wake of this development, it is indicated that for the first time al-Qaeda members will actively start to participate in the ongoing struggle of the Palestinians.
Late in 2001, al-Qaeda’s limelight shifted to the Palestinian strife. Reliable sources reported that Al-Qaeda had named a Palestinian to be the chief military operations (after the death of Mohammed Atef) and Osama bin Laden’s successor in case the latter was arrested or killed. The nominated next leader is Zain Al-Abedin Hasan (Abu Zubaydah), a 30-year old Palestinian from Gaza Strip.
According to regional sources, one of Hasan’s initial strategic decisions was to provide actual assistance to the Palestinians.
Al-Bawaba has learnt through sources in Lebanon, that preferred to remain anonymous, that this switch in the focal-point on to the conflict, has been gaining some actual momentum. These sources maintain that elements within the Lebanese Resistance party Hizbullah have been considering means to annex the al-Qaeda fighters to their struggle.
According to the German daily Die Welt, Saudi tycoons have recently intensified their support of the current Palestinian uprising. The CIA and Western intelligence channels have told the German newspaper that about 4,000 al-Qaeda activists were transferred to Lebanon as an interim station prior to their designated relocation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Some Saudis have financed this operation.
Die Welt added that these Saudi millionaires have allocated around US$5,000 for each al-Qaeda operative who manages to resettle either in the West Bank or Gaza. This operation has been going on for a while and has been carefully planned.
At this point, according to information originated in the West, some combatants have been stationed in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein al Hilwe (Lebanon), the stronghold of Usbat al Ansar, a small armed militia identified with Bin Laden.
At this point, according to Albawaba sources, the al-Qaeda people in Lebanon are getting organized to find out the best practical way which will allow them to join other armed elements within Lebanon, in order to assist the Intifada.
Abu Zubaydah has been known as al-Qaeda primary contact for recruits and as the organizer of overseas operations.
A detailed description of his role was provided by Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian convicted of attempting to carry out a terrorist attack in Los Angeles to coincide with the millennium celebrations in December 1999.
In court testimony in a case related to the millennium plot, Ressam described Abu Zubaydah as "the person in charge" of terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. "He receives young men from all countries. He accepts you or rejects you," he said.
After Ressam graduated from the Khalden training camp in Afghanistan at the end of 1998, he checked in again with Abu Zubaydah en route to Canada. Ressam testified that Abu Zubaydah asked him to acquire Canadian passports for other terrorists to enable them "to carry out operations in the U.S."
A Jordanian military court in 2000 sentenced Abu Zubaydah in absentia to death for allegedly coordinating a plot to attack tourist sites in Jordan around the time of the millennium celebrations.
According to U.S. and Jordanian officials, his contacts in Jordan included Khalil Deek, a naturalized U.S. citizen who allegedly was one of the organizers of the millennium plot. In Addition, according to Jane’s weekly, Abu Zubaydah planned to attack Israeli and American targets in Jordan. (Albawaba.com)
