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Is Mahmoud Atauna a Hamas Terrorist? Is he a Hamas operative who intended to stab and kill Israeli civilians and security force members inside Israel captured by the Shin Bet?
Or is he Sami Atauna a Hamas defector who willingly gave himself up and shared life saving intelligence regarding Hamas?
When I I recently read this report on the capture of Mahmoud Atauna it made me happy that Israel captured him. I wanted to give credit to Shabak for capturing this terrorist because I believe in giving credit where credit is due. But frankly in the back of my mind I was a bit suspicious. Why would Shabak make this news public? What did they have to gain to disclose their source, clearly putting the Hamas operative's life in danger especially when he helped them unless their agenda was to give themselves, the Shin Bet a positive image of doing a great job in fighting terrorists? Nu, that in itself is not so terrible.
Since Shabak framed and created a false narrative about Jewish Terrorists, they lost credibility and before putting them in a positive light I decided to research further.
What has come to light is that it seems to me that Shin Bet should not take the credit for capturing the Hamas operative nor for the intelligence of this Hamas Operative. The initial story that was reported a month ago by Western sources was rather that this Hamas Member is actually a hero, potentially saving many Israeli lives for defecting and has courageously put his life on the line to protect Israel.
Unfortunately the news released for publication from the Shin Bet has a totally different slant and does not give Atauna any credit but rather paints him as a terrorist who wanted to attack Israeli solders. This narrative makes the Shin Bet the hero.
My question to the Jewish Press.com and the other news services. Why is this breaking news and why is it newly released if it was in the news a month ago? In the recent version, Shin Bet calls him a Hamas terrorist. His name is released as Mahmoud "He was arrested about a month ago after he crossed into Israel carrying two knives, the Shin Bet said in a statement. Atauna said under questioning that he had intended to stab and kill Israeli civilians or security force members inside Israel."
Was Atauna's statement of guilt reported out of context? Were his intentions to stab and kill Israeli civilians a thing of the past and that now the opposite was true?
What is the truth? Is the Shin Bet trying to paint this Hamas defector as a terrorist and take all the credit so that they can somehow undo their tarnished image following their framing of innocent Jewish hilltop youth?
In addition accompanying this story, HaModia displays a photo op of Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon (L), IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkott (C) and IDF Chief of Southern Command Eyal Zamir (R), seen at the Southern Command headquarters, near the southern Israeli border with Gaza. This picture, prominently featured in the paper allows them to share taking credit of this intelligence windfall.
They too need to reshape their tarnished image as many have been questioning their Leadership of Israeli's Defense. http://hamodia.com/2016/05/05/israel-arrests-top-hamas-terrorist-involved-in-tunnel-operations/
Their image has been tarnished following a wave of angry grassroots backlash against PM Netanyahu, DM Yaalon and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkott for condemning the IDF Soldier in Hebron before any fair investigation was held. They made it worse by justifying their condemnation with self righteous statements about the IDF having to have to answer to a higher moral standard.
Many were very upset with the murder accusations against the Hebron soldier and many are still very upset that there are manslaughter charges against this soldier. Mother's in particular are annoyed, knowing that their IDF soldier sons are putting their lives on the line each and every day and at the very least expect that the IDF has their back. In a split second decision many would understand and accept that this soldier had good reason to believe that the terrorist was still capable of endangering the lives of the soldiers, the first responders and the civilians nearby by blowing himself up with a hidden explosive under his vest. Better their son alive in military jail than blown to pieces by a terrorist.
In the News:
Shin Bet Reveals: Arrested Hamas Member Gave Israel Information on Tunnels
Beware of weakening the Shin Bet
Shin Bet busts 'Jewish terror cell'Israel Security Agency says it broke up a cell of Jewish extremists who carried out attacks against Palestinians in 2015. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/211177#replie
IDF discovers two-kilometer-long Hamas tunnel in Gaza border area
| The IDF announced Monday that it had discovered an over two-kilometer-long, concrete reinforced tunnel that had been dug from Khan Yunis into an Israeli community adjacent to southern Gaza, and that IDF bulldozers entered Gaza and destroyed the tunnel over the weekend. Foreign sources reported that the approximately 30-meter-deep passage was discovered near Kibbutz Sufa using new technology capable of locating empty spaces in the ground. |
Senior Hamas tunnel network defector tried to flee to Israel by sea: sources
| Western intelligence sources monitoring events in Gaza confirmed Monday that a senior operative from the Hamas tunnel network defected to Israel last week. The sources identified the defector as Sami Atauna, a resident of the Jebalya refugee camp who came to the border fence by himself and surrendered to an IDF patrol. The sources added that the senior operative had also made an unsuccessful attempt to defect to Israel by sea during the past few weeks. |
Senior Hamas tunnel network defector tried to flee to Israel by sea: sources
April 18, 2016Senior Hamas tunnel network defector tried to flee to Israel by sea: sources, DEBKAfile, April 18, 2016
Western intelligence sources monitoring events in Gaza confirmed Monday that a senior operative from the Hamas tunnel network defected to Israel last week. The sources identified the defector as Sami Atauna, a resident of the Jebalya refugee camp who came to the border fence by himself and surrendered to an IDF patrol. The sources added that the senior operative had also made an unsuccessful attempt to defect to Israel by sea during the past few weeks. It is not clear whether there is any connection between the defection and the discovery of a Hamas tunnel leading into Israel, which was announced by the IDF on Monday.
Sincerely,
Robin Ticker
Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch. May their memories serve as a blessing.
Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com
Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog.
