Mahmoud Abbas reveals what regular Jihad Watch readers have known since last August. Perhaps with the Hamas victory relegating him somewhat to the sidelines, Mahmoud is just now getting the time to catch up on his Jihad Watch reading.
From AP, with thanks to JE:
RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview published Thursday that the al-Qaida terror network has infiltrated the Gaza Strip and West Bank, which could have dire consequences for the Middle East.
Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in response Thursday that Israel was intensifying its “war” against al-Qaida.
Abbas said in an interview with the London-based Al Hayat newspaper that he had not expected al-Qaida would succeed in setting up operations in the Palestinian areas.
“We have signs of an al-Qaida presence in the West Bank and Gaza,” Abbas said, without elaborating. “We haven’t yet reached the stage of capturing them.”
“The infiltration of al-Qaida can ruin the whole region,” he added.