Monday, July 28, 2008

Fatah Detains Hamas Activists As Palestinian Rift Deepens

Palestinian militants from the Islamic group Hamas take part in a training session in Gaza City, Monday, July 28, 2008. Hamas security forces fanned out across a tense Gaza Strip on Sunday, July 27, 2008, following a mysterious weekend car bombing that killed six people and sparked the toughest Hamas crackdown against its Fatah rivals in months.(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

From The International Herald Tribune:

JERUSALEM: Tension between the rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah spread Monday from Gaza to the West Bank, with reports of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority security forces detaining more than 50 activists and academics associated with Hamas.

The timing of the arrests, which were focused in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, appeared to be in retaliation for a broad Hamas sweep against Fatah members and institutions in Gaza over the weekend.

Hamas's action followed a bomb attack late Friday that killed five Hamas militants and a young girl at the Gaza beachfront. Hamas, which controls Gaza, blamed Fatah, whose leaders denied involvement.

Read more ....

More News On The Hamas / Fatah Divide

Fatah arrests Hamas activists in W.Bank -- Reuters
Fatah, Hamas arrest each other's members -- ABC News Net Australia)
Abbas wants Arab monitors in Gaza -- Jerusalem Post
Abbas call for Palestinian reconciliation meaningless: Hamas -- Monsters And Critics
Report: Torture Widespread in Palestinian Jails -- ABC News
Abbas aide: Hamas has no intention of dialogue -- China View

My Comment: After pouring multi-billions into both Gaza and the West Bank .... the people are poorer and the political structures are totally dysfunctional. The U.S., Europe, and the Arab Nations should probably ponder that a change in policy towards the Palestinians will probably be a shrewd thing to do.

I am betting that nothing will happen.

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