Artículo de Amos Harel en "Ha´aretz" del 14-12-02

Iran has deepened its influence in the territories, creating contact with the armed wings of the Fatah in the West Bank, and becoming involved in issuing instructions for attacks.

In the past, Iran only gave money to Islamic groups - the Hamas and particularly the Islamic Jihad. But in recent months, close ties have developed between the Iranians and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, which is affiliated with Fatah, a supposedly secular movement.

The Palestinian Authority is concerned by this phenomenon.

The instructions arrive via the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the Hezbollah and Fatah elements in Lebanon, and are transferred to the Tanzim, particularly in the Nablus area. In some cases, the messages are detailed instructions for terrorist attacks.

A key figure in this network is Majid al-Masri, head of the military wing of Fatah in the northern West Bank, who was arrested earlier this month in Nablus by a Paratroops unit. Masri maintained extensive contacts throughout Iran and Lebanon.

But other Fatah members, including Hussam Khader from Balata, are also apparently involved in the contacts with Iran. A senior defense establishment source told Ha'aretz last night: "We can see a straight line from Iran, through Lebanon to the Fatah in Samaria."

The PA has also tightened its relationship with Iran as was seen in particular in the case of the Karine A weapons ship, which involved an Iran, Lebanon, PA triangle. But the direct contact the Iranians are making with the armed wing of Fatah worries the top levels of the PA. Some have lately been telling Israelis: "We've lost control over the `brigades.' Iran is runing them instead of us."

The Israeli intelligence community has identified a phenomenon whereby some Fatah people have become religious during the current conflict. For the first time, Fatah members began conducting suicidal and "sacrificial" attacks, in which they undertake an action knowing their chances of survival are nil. Some have recorded living wills on videotape, with Islamic themes.

Fatah also feels that the Islamic groups have a better financial infrastructure, able to take care of the activists and their families.

But the connection between Fatah and Islamic groups is not limited to the links between Nablus Tanzim and Iran and Hezbollah. Lately, Al-Qaida has been sending messages from Lebanon to Gaza, and some are reaching the popular committees, local factions of Fatah in Gaza.