Usual
Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 6:33 am
TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Hamas has been recruiting Palestinians for the war in Chechnya.
Documents seized from Hamas strongholds in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have cited the Chechen revolt as one of the leading Islamic struggles. The documents, include propaganda posters, that tout the Islamic war against Russia in Chechnya as well as the Al Qaida-aligned leader Shamil Basayev. The other causes are Afghanistan, Balkans, Kashmir, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine.
Israel's military also seized videos distributed by Hamas to schools and youth clubs that lauded the Chechnya revolt. Military sources said the videos were used to recruit new members to Hamas and the global Islamic insurgency. The videos were found at the American University in Jenin and Hebron University and the Hamas-financed Orphans Home in Hebron.
Hamas has been in contact with Chechen rebels as part of the Palestinian movement's effort to expand relations and cooperation with other Islamic groups. Hamas was said to have modeled itself after the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah and Chechen insurgents, who have formed a virtual state in Chechnya.