HC Deb 28 January 2002 vol 379 cc37-8W
Mr Jim Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the links between the Palestinian Authority and the Al-Aqsa Brigades who have claimed responsbility for recent terrorist attacks. [R] [31130]

Mr. Bradshaw

We understand that the Al-Aqsa Brigades is the name used by members of Fatah when they carry out attacks on Israeli targets. Fatah is a political party The Palestinians after the Oslo accords. As such, there is no direct link between the Palestinian Authority and the actions of individual Fatah members. Fatah is President Arafat's political party but both he and more generally the Palestinian Authority have repeatedly condemned terrorism.