THE AL-QAEDA/HAMAS CONNECTION IN GAZA

Has Al-Qaeda Found a Hospitable Host in Hamas? - Bridget Johnson
Some reasons why Gaza is attractive to al-Qaeda, and vice versa: Who better to fund the Hamas government's unpaid workers than the deep pockets of al-Qaeda? Gaza is a centralized launching base against Israel, the doorway to the West, but also against the Arab states that have been trying to stymie al-Qaeda's quest for the caliphate - Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. Gaza presents the opportunity to extend the interests of young Hamas militants beyond just wiping out Israel, while simultaneously assisting them in that endeavor. (Los Angeles Daily News)