Factions trade gunfire in Gaza

[barb162]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1138404334894&call_pageid=970599119419

Factions trade gunfire in Gaza

Palestinians fear more bloodshed in wake of election

Fatah, Hamas caught up in political infighting
Jan. 28, 2006. 07:45 AM

MITCH POTTER
MIDDLE EAST BUREAU


BETHLEHEM, West Bank—As Palestinians grappled with the enormity of their electoral decision, factional infighting erupted yesterday in a series of clashes between supporters of the defeated Fatah movement and their triumphant Hamas counterparts.

Gunfire was traded twice yesterday in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, the second battle coming after nightfall as armed Hamas loyalists surrounded a Palestinian Authority police station and opened fire.

Five Palestinians were wounded but no fatalities were reported, sources in Gaza said. The clashes underscored earlier fears that the weapon-riddled territories could descend into a bloody round of score-settling in the aftermath of Wednesday's elections.

In a separate incident, several thousand embittered Fatah supporters poured into the streets of Gaza City, demanding the party's leaders resign en masse. Cars were set alight and weapons were fired in the air during the evening protest, led by members of Fatah's armed wing, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

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[madaboutharry]

1. I believe that one

of the fears often expressed by Yitzak Rabin was civil war.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. A fear for Rabin, but something that excites others...

Even in this forum, there's ones who start getting excited when it involves violence amongst the Palestinians...

Violet...

[Englander]

9. Yeah, other 'exciting' themes include;

Iran/Gaza, Jack-Nicholson-in-an-army-uniform, Iran/Gaza, the miraculous
resurrection of Yasir, Iran/Gaza, & Sykes/Picot.

;-)

[demosincebirth]

2. Each faction will never give up control.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Civil War

How sad they are already starting a civil war, yet have no country. Wouldn't it be more prudent to work together, recognize Israel, and start negotiating? Seems they care more about power then their people. However, maybe, just maybe, a Palestinian version of Abraham Lincoln will emerge!

[barb162]

4. It's hard to tell the rhetoric from the...umm, rhetoric, isn't it?

I think many Fatah supporters are concerned about the Palestinian people as a whole and fear the Hamas rule for a number of very legitimate reasons. And then there's the Fatah types that you mention, who seem to care only about the power. And probably some in between

[cali]

6. shit, shit, shit.

Yeat's words reverberate:

Things fall apart
The center cannot hold.
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world
The blood dimmed tide is loosed
And everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned.

[rfkrfk]

7. differences need to be bridged

old injustices must be settled.

sorry, no sympathy here for people on the losing
side, they know what the deal is

[Igel]

8. Sort of sounds like the effects of a coup

via election.

While Fatah was no great shakes, at least they well big enough to hold elections(granted, not always willingly and certainly not with great relish), this time reasonably free.

It'll be interesting to see if Hamas is as ... what's the word I'm after? ... liberal?