Hamas, Palestinian Authority have deadly clash

[cerulean]

Oct. 8, 2002
Four dead as Hamas, PA clash
By LAMIA LAHOUD

Hamas gunmen and Palestinian police fired on each other in a deadly fight in Gaza City Monday afternoon, after a group of masked Hamas gunmen killed the commander of the Palestinian riot police in Gaza earlier in the day.

Palestinian security sources said Hamas activist Imad al-Aql killed Col. Rajeh Abu Lahiya, 47, in revenge for the death of his brother and two other Hamas members at the hands of PA riot police on October 8, 2001. . . .

======
This might be just a simple vengeance slaying, but it's interesting nonetheless. Although all the various Palestinian factions have Israel as an ostensible enemy, in practice they have likely to worry more about internecine conflict.

[takeo]

the Palestinian police and al-fatah are the only legal armed force in the occupied territories, Hamas is a terrorist organsation and the IDF is an occupying foreign army. Both have to be defeated and banned from the WB and Gaza to restore order and the rule of law.

[minusthejihad]

I vote and push for civil war. Those innocent that seek asylum and who want to escape the violence should be settled in France, they love their downtrodden there. When they are gone, I wish that the PA and the Hamas and all the fringe groups have an all out bloody battle until the last man falls.

Man, I loved the Iran-Iraq war. More of these should be encouraged and financed by the same outside entities.

[minusthejihad]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1034014715160

"Many senior Palestinian Authority security officials in the Gaza Strip have gone underground, fearing retaliatory attacks from Hamas activists following two days of clashes.

"Commanders of PA security forces are afraid to sleep in their homes," sources in the Gaza Strip said. "Many of them have stopped showing up at work."

The clashes erupted after the assassination of Col. Rajeh Abu Lihyeh, head of the PA's anti-riot police force, on Monday.

According to a PA official in Ramallah, PA Chairman Yasser Arafat is seething over the bloody events in Gaza and has ordered his security forces to put an immediate end to the bloodletting.

But Arafat has discovered that the Gaza Strip is no longer under his full control, due to his protracted stay in Ramallah.

Hamas has become the de facto authority there, virtually taking full control over all the towns and refugee camps, except for some parts of Gaza City.

Tensions have also been running high between the PA and Hamas ever since Hamas rejected an understanding with the PA to stop suicide attacks inside the Green Line in August.
"

Looks like we are getting farther away from a 2 state solution and more like a 3 state solution.

[L@mplighterM]

Originally posted by takeo
the Palestinian police and al-fatah are the only legal armed force in the occupied territories, Hamas is a terrorist organsation and the IDF is an occupying foreign army. Both have to be defeated and banned from the WB and Gaza to restore order and the rule of law.

The IDF isn’t an occupying army! This isn’t about occupation at all they are just there to enforce UN resolutions. If the UN had any balls Annan would be leading the charge against the Palestinian terrorists in the WB and GS sitting on the nose of a unicorn.

The IDF is actually doing the work for the PA and the UN at the moment.

[Mediocrates]

Originally posted by takeo
the Palestinian police and al-fatah are the only legal armed force in the occupied territories, Hamas is a terrorist organsation and the IDF is an occupying foreign army. Both have to be defeated and banned from the WB and Gaza to restore order and the rule of law.

WTF does that mean? There are scads of terrorists running around Palistan. Force 17, al Aqsa, PFLP, Hezbollah, tons more. There are more 'police' to civilians in Palistan than anywhere on earth.

[NewsGuy]

Originally posted by minusthejihad
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1034014715160

"Commanders of PA security forces are afraid to sleep in their homes," sources in the Gaza Strip said. "Many of them have stopped showing up at work."

A most welcome development. May their internal conflict be as bloody as possible, sending as many Palestinian terrorists to their graves, Inshallah .

It's kind of like a gang war: The more they eliminate themselves, the less work left over for the police and the less danger to civilized society.

[ComfortablyNumb]

I find it quite ironic how the PA Police were shooting at the Hamas activists (in some cases teenagers) who were throwing stones. Am I the only one that caught onto this? CNN certainly did not give it any special attention. Why am I not surprised?

[takeo]

"But Arafat has discovered that the Gaza Strip is no longer under his full control, due to his protracted stay in Ramallah.

Hamas has become the de facto authority there, virtually taking full control over all the towns and refugee camps, except for some parts of Gaza City. "

sadly enough, this is the truth. Not only hamas, but other terrorist organisations as well have gained controll of parts of the occupied territories, and of course this was exactly the goal of Sharon, to weaken and destroy the legal autority of the palestinian people, which was a serious threath, not to israeli security but to israeli claims on the occupied territories and the military occupation(still very important for the israeli rightwing, represented in the government). Terrorists, particularly the firebrand unreconciliatory bunch of fundamentalists, and IDF are currently allies, in spite of public declarations that they hate eachother. Israeli policy since two years has only managed to weaken Arafat and strenghtening the terrorists, moderates on the Palestinian side have been weakened by the israeli refusal to negociate, the violence on both sides, and the destruction of their infrastructure and autority. Both sides are opposed to a two-states solution. In France we say "les extrèmes se touchent". But this is an incredible cynical and dangerous policy, and it will fireback, it did already, as did the American support for afghan terrorists and Iraq in the 80's. In the long run, only the PA will be able to restore order in palestine and establish law and order, nobody in Palestina will ever recognise the israeli autority, and israel will never manage to root out terorism, because Israel lacks support from inside the palestinian society. the vacuum left by the PA is quickly being replaced by more radical groups. The weaker the PA is, the longer it will take before they can put an end to terrorism, and civil war and make peace with Israel, the longer the israeli population will suffer from suicide attacks.

[Mediocrates]

My Good Communist

The Revolution Eats its own Children

yes?

[alexbmn]

I wish the best of luck to the PA and Hamas in their righteous struggle against each other.

[Mediocrates]

takeo
All that other stuff about the inevitable great strides to be made by the PA - that's pretty weak. There is nothing to suggest it and frankly, you understand as well as anyone that the world will recognize ANY body who steps up to lead the Palestinians on day 1 of independence. Arafat is fighting for Arafat.

[takeo]

the struggle isn't a rightous struggle, it is the struggle of the democratically elected and all over the world recognised PA against terrorism (and against zionist expansionism). A reasonable Israeli would choose the side of its natural allies, as the left-wing does. The PA is recognised by the whole world AND still by the silent majority of Palestinians, as opinion polls suggest.
That's why Sharon is so desperate to destroy it, it remains the biggest challenge for his "greater Israel" plans.
Nobody will step up against Arafat, who will almost certainly win the upcoming elections.

[jcsd]

I read in the paper the other day, an Israeli politician say "if there was an election tommorow, Yasser Arafat would win"

[Mediocrates]

Originally posted by jcsd
I read in the paper the other day, an Israeli politician say "if there was an election tommorow, Yasser Arafat would win"

Of course who else is running? Dead Guys?