Palestinian Machine Gun Democracy (Vanity)

AP ^ | January 24, 2006 | JewishRighter

[JewishRighter]

Palestinian Pol Slain on Eve of Vote By ALI DARAGHMEH, Associated Press Writer Tue Jan 24, 9:15 AM ET

NABLUS, West Bank - Palestinian gunmen linked to the ruling Fatah movement killed one of their party leaders Tuesday, increasing tensions on the eve of parliamentary balloting and raising doubts about a new pledge by armed groups in the West Bank and Gaza to hold their fire during the vote.

Opinion polls have shown Fatah and Hamas in a close race ahead of Wednesday's election and both sides have said they might form a coalition government. Candidates were banned from campaigning Tuesday for a cooling-off period before the election.

Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas candidate in northern Gaza, said the Islamic group expects to become the largest party in parliament. But it will not try to form a government alone, instead seeking a partnership with Fatah or other parties, he said.

Top Hamas leaders spoke with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas recently to discuss the elections and their aftermath, he said, without giving details.

Meanwhile, Abbas called on all Palestinians to exercise their right to vote.

"The election is a right and duty at the same time, and I hope that the results of this election will reflect honestly the Palestinian people's opinions," he said in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Thousands of Palestinian security personnel, who voted early, fanned out across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to protect polling stations. More than 1,700 Israeli border police are being deployed to ensure order and the free movement of voters in the Jerusalem area during election day, Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said.

Violence has marred the period before the elections, with militants taking over government offices and threatening poll workers. Much of the unrest was carried out by gunmen linked to Fatah, apparently fearing losses to Hamas.

Fatah also has been riven by internal divisions, which turned ly Tuesday. Fatah gunmen shot to Abu Ahmed Hassouna, 44, a party leader in Nablus after he told them to stop at campaign posters on his house, relatives said. It was the second politically motivated of the campaign.

[JewishRighter]

Here's my favorite part:

>Much of the unrest was carried out by gunmen linked to >Fatah, apparently fearing losses to Hamas.

>Fatah also has been riven by internal divisions, which >turned ly Tuesday. Fatah gunmen shot to Abu >Ahmed Hassouna, 44, a party leader in Nablus after he >told them to stop at campaign posters on his >house, relatives said. It was the second politically >motivated of the campaign.

In the first part, I like the word "unrest". Doesn't that sound nice? Like, they have insomnia or just can't get comfortable on the couch.

The second part is the kicker. The way you handle things, even in your own party, under Palestinian Democracy, is you go around the campaign posters you don't like. And if the candidate gives you any guff about it, you simply kill him. Boy, the Rats must be looking at this with envy: "Hmmmm, maybe we can get some of that Palestinian democracy over here to deal with Supreme Court nominees."

[navyguy]

Good... With any luck at all, and if the Pali's stick to their normal modus operandi, they'll start killing each other in huge numbers in a massive internal war for control of the Death Cult.