Thanks to Abu Afak for the ping to this thread:
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Note: The following post is an exact quote:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1498217/posts
Palestinian Vigilante Killings on the Rise
AP ^ | 10/6/05 | MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH
Posted on 10/07/2005 12:28:14 AM PDT by abu afak
RAMALLAH, West Bank - The number of Palestinians slain in vigilante killings and other internal violence has nearly quadrupled in four years, from 43 in 2002 to 151 so far in 2005, according to statistics presented Thursday.
Top security official said more Palestinians were killed in internal violence this year than by Israeli troops.
The descent into lawlessness is hurting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas politically at a time when he is trying to beat back a tough challenge by Islamic militant rivals. This week, a Palestinian parliament frustrated with armed gangs and corrupt police officers ordered Abbas to disband his Cabinet and make crime-fighting his top priority.
"The security situation is deteriorating in a very dangerous way, with no one putting a stop to it," said Hassan Khreisheh, the deputy parliament speaker...."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...