Israel may allow PLO's Badr Brigade into Gaza

[bemildred]

Israeli officials on Saturday were deliberating over Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' request to grant Jordan-based Palestine Liberation Organization troops entry into the Gaza Strip.

Abbas made his request two weeks ago, in hopes of beefing up his loyalist forces, as rival Palestinian factions bolstered their ranks in anticipation of a feared civil war.

Israel has objected in the past to letting members of the Jordan-based Badr Brigade enter Palestinian areas. But with clashes intensifying between Abbas' Fatah Party and forces loyal to the Palestinians' militant Hamas government, Israeli officials said they would consider allowing them in.

The Badr Brigades are composed of several thousand Palestinians, mostly long-time PLO activists.

Haaretz

[Kagemusha]

1. So forevermore the PLO shall be Israel's military ally?

I'll believe it when I see it.

[bemildred]

2. This seemed to me to have considerable potential for "blowback".

I will be surprised if they do it.

[Kagemusha]

3. Well let's say they do it. The next intifada targets the PLO.

Because the PLO will be Israel's military proxy. I know that's what a lot of Israelis would LOVE to see but, I wonder whether, in the long run, that will serve Israel's interests either.

[bemildred]

4. There is the potential for civil war among the Palestinians.

Then again, they might decide to fight someone else instead, once they got there. It could also result in the further de-legitimizing of Fatah. It's a wildly unpredictable thing to do. It does seem likely that - one way or another - it would lead to an increase in violence.

[pelsar]

5. its nuts.....

some background..gaza is divided up between clans, and their various turfs as well as fatah, islamic jihdad, hamas and some renagade groups....put in these outsiders who dont know the turf and are loyal only to fatah.....and they'll be stepping on everyones toes over there.....

couple of years ago they brought over some gaza police to the westbank....they were quickly returned as they didnt understand the internal workings of the westbank....

i would guess israel is betting on abbas winning the little civil war and puttting some order back into gaza....gaza without a responsable central authority simply means additional missles on israeli cities

on the other hand.....it could backfire and they could join hamas or become "super hamas"....too many events that have yet to happen that will determine the outcome.

[bemildred]

6. Always a pleasure when we can agree. nt

[bemildred]

7. Report: Bush asks PM to authorize Badr Brigade

US President George W. Bush asked Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during their meeting in Washington on Tuesday to authorize the entry of 1,500 Palestinian soldiers from the Jordanian-based Badr Division, into the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the British daily The Daily Telegraph reported.

The relatively well-armed Badr Division is loyal to the Fatah faction, and the hope in the US is that the additional troops will help buttress Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' strength in the territories against Hamas.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1162378401551&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull