Danger Will Robinson

Or should I say Joshua Levin? Some news from the Jerusalem Post.

The Aksa Martyrs Brigades announced on Sunday that its members have succeeded in manufacturing chemical and biological weapons.

In a leaflet distributed in the Gaza Strip, the group, which belongs to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party, said the weapons were the result of a three-year effort.

According to the statement, the first of its kind, the group has managed to manufacture and develop at least 20 different types of biological and chemical weapons.

The group said its members would not hesitate to add the new weapons to Kassam rockets that are being fired at Israeli communities almost every day. It also threatened to use the weapons against IDF soldiers if Israel carried out its threats to invade the Gaza Strip.

"We want to tell [Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert and [Defense Minister Amir] Peretz that your threats don't frighten us," the leaflet said.

"We will surprise you with our new weapons the moment the first soldier sets foot in the Gaza Strip."

This is both a serious and dangerous claim to be making. Israel surrounded by enemies and the recent memory of holocaust, are liable to take the most extreme actions when threatened with annihilation. Israel is a very small country area-wise. A chemical or bio weapons attack on it would be devestating.

I pray to God this is all a bluff. Why would any group, even an extreme group like Aksa, want to say or announce this? You're inviting an attack. Israel has shown through four previous wars they take their survival seriously. They can stamp out the Palestinians on both the west bank and Gaza strip without difficulty. A threat or bluff like this is just too dangerous.

Much of what I said in this post about Iran can be applied here too. The Middle East will pay close watching in the coming days, but then when doesn't it?

Hat tip- Captain's Quarters. Ed has some commentary that is worth reading. Tel-Chai Nation and Outside the Beltway have also blogged on this.
Open Post- Wizbang, Third World County,
Cross posted to Bullwinkle Blog