[mojito]

According to the story, the US is training elite Fatah forces in Lebanon in anticipation of this conflict.

If that is true, it is a propaganda coup for Hamas, because they will be able to paint Fatah as a stooge for Israeli and US interests.

[mojito]

Here is the crux of the issue, as reported in a related story:

“...PA president Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to finish his term, on January 9, 2009.

According to the PA constitution, Abbas will be replaced by the speaker of the PA parliament, Abdel Aziz Dweik, a senior Hamas official currently in an Israeli prison.

Abbas, however, is not expected to step down from his post and is looking for ways to extend his term. The IDF and the PA are concerned that Abbas’s refusal to hand over the reins could set off violent clashes in the West Bank between Fatah and Hamas.”

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017453367&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[mojito]

Here is the crux of the issue, as reported in a related story:

“...PA president Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to finish his term, on January 9, 2009.

According to the PA constitution, Abbas will be replaced by the speaker of the PA parliament, Abdel Aziz Dweik, a senior Hamas official currently in an Israeli prison.

Abbas, however, is not expected to step down from his post and is looking for ways to extend his term. The IDF and the PA are concerned that Abbas’s refusal to hand over the reins could set off violent clashes in the West Bank between Fatah and Hamas.”

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017453367&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull