Al-Majd Brigades is the name of an organization that claimed responsibility for a failed rocket attack against Israel in July 2006. <P><br /><br />The group apparently launched two crude <a href="http://www.tkb.org/Glossary.jsp#Q"> Qassam </a> rockets from Tulkarem in the West Bank towards Netanya, a large city in Israel. Both rockets failed and no damage or injuries were reported in the attack. <P><br /><br />Shortly after the launch, the previously unknown al-Majd Brigades released a claim of responsibility containing stock language praising martyrdom and decrying Israel as the "Zionist enemy."  Al-Majd is the Arabic word for glory, and is also the name of a town in the West Bank.  The group did not elucidate an ideology but is likely aligned with other major Palestinian terrorist groups such as Hamas or the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.  Majd was also the name of a Hamas brigade set up in 1987 to kill suspected informers.  The name was an Arabic acronym for Majmouath Jihad u-Dawa (Holy War and Sermonizing Group).  It is not thought that al-Majd Brigades is related to this now-defunct organization.  <P><br /><br />Although the attack failed, this particular Qassam launch was notable in that it originated from the West Bank.  Most Qassam attacks are launched from the Gaza Strip, as Israel has not maintained a security apparatus there since the 2005 disengagement.  While some saw this attack as a breakdown of Israeli security in the West Bank, most Israeli commentators dismissed the attack as merely a publicity stunt to gain funds and notoriety.  An Israeli Army officer was quoted as saying 'the attempt to improvise a rocket failed, but the aim of the attempt was to send photographed evidence to places from which money arrives, and to prove to funders (sic) that more money is needed."

Al-Majd Brigades have not claimed responsibility for further attacks.  However, it is likely that members of the group remain active in other Palestinian terrorist organizations and may be responsible for future attacks either with those groups or under the al-Majd moniker.  In any case, Qassam attacks remain a threat to Israel, although the vast majority of these launches continue to originate from the Gaza Strip.