Civil War Brewing

16 May 2007



Fatah and Hamas Fight It out in Gaza

The Palestinian Authority, Fatah and Hamas brought a new meaning to the term “unity government” this week. Apparently, it now can mean a government composed of factions that are busy murdering one another. At least 17 people have been killed in Gaza since Sunday, and President Mahmoud Abbas appears to be unable to rein in the violence. The only man to come out of this with anything like integrity is former Interior Minister Hani Qawasmi, who resigned in protest and in political impotence.

As Reuters reported, “The Islamist Hamas and the secular Fatah formed a unity government two months ago in a Saudi-brokered deal that failed to resolve the crucial issue of control over security forces, and left armed groups fighting turf wars that have become even more deadly.” For weeks, Yasser Arafat’s old crew (Fatah) has struggled (often with weapons drawn) against Hamas (formerly funded by Israel as an alternative to Fatah, and now, much more militant than the old terrorist’s mob). This suggests that the leaderships of both factions have lost control over their hardmen.

The latest fighting voided a cease-fire the Egyptians had helped broker a few hours before. According to CNN, “Monday’s fighting erupted when Hamas gunmen approached a training base used by Fatah forces that guard the [border] crossing, officials said. The base was set up in part by an American security team sent to train Palestinians on how to check cargo and baggage at crossings. The Hamas force attacked the base with rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, said Ahmed al-Kaisi, spokesman for the pro-Fatah Presidential Guard, which guards the crossing under an agreement with Israel. ‘We consider this a serious provocation and a crime committed in cold blood,’ al-Kaisi said.”

This is all the more delicious since yesterday was “Nakba” the annual day set aside to remember how the Israelis had set up their own state in 1948, visiting misery and death on the Palestinians. It now appears that the Palestinians don’t need the Israelis to kill them and make their lives miserable – they have found a way to do it themselves. It is an interesting, but in the long run ineffective, way to deprive the Zionist state of its raison d’etre.

Nevertheless, CNN also reported, “As the fighting raged, Israeli troops opened fire at two gunmen who approached the border, the army said. Palestinian officials said one man was killed. He was identified as a member of the Presidential Guard, who apparently was trying to help his comrades against Hamas. Witnesses also said three Israeli tanks approached Karni, and the Hamas force quickly withdrew. Israel also closed the crossing, known as Gaza’s lifeline because it is the passage for cargo going in and out of the area.”

Still, there is little reason for the Israelis to get involved at this stage. As Napoleon famously noted, one should never interrupt an enemy when he is making a mistake. Even if the Israelis were in a mood to settle all outstanding questions, there is now no one with whom to negotiate. Peace is as far off as it ever has been.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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