Posted on 04/15/2007 6:02:06 PM PDT by Knitting A Conundrum
And then, there’s this.....
” Fatah-Hamas Violence Moves to Judea and Samaria
Arutz Sheva ^ | Sivan 5767, June 14, ‘07 | Hillel Fendel
Posted on 06/14/2007 6:44:37 AM CDT by Esther Ruth
Sivan 5767, June 14, ‘07
Published: 06/14/07, 1:25 PM
Fatah-Hamas Violence Moves to Judea and Samaria
by Hillel Fendel
(IsraelNN.com) Fears of a spillover of violence from Gaza into Judea and Samaria are apparently coming true.
Coming off three days in which some 80 Arabs were killed in Fatah-Hamas warring in Gaza, Wednesday night saw shootings, arsons, mass arrests and building takeovers in Ramallah, Jenin, Shechem and elsewhere in Judea and Samaria.
In Jenin, Fatah terrorists seized a Hamas school, hospital and offices on Wednesday, and 200 Fatah activists marched in Jenin streets and shot in the air, after having burned down a Hamas club center. Al-Aqsa Brigades terror chief Zakhariya Zubeidi announced a ban on all Hamas activity in the city until further notice.
In Ramallah and nearby Bituniyah, Fatah is engaged in rounding up and arresting Hamas commanders from their homes. Hamas reported that armed Fatah men had kidnapped a Ramallah city councilman and burned his office. Two prominent Hamas officials in the araea were shot at in separate incidents, but no one was hurt in those attempts.
South of Ariel, in Salfit, Fatah men burned a Hamas office and raided other offices in the region. In Tul Karem, as well, east of Netanya, a Hamas office was shot at, and two Hamas cars were burnt. Fatah-Hamas gun battles were reported in Shechem and Bethlehem as well.
With Fatah on the run in Gaza, it has now called on Hamas members in Judea and Samaria to renounce their allegiance to Hamas if they do not wish to be harmed. Fatah has begun mass-arrests of Hamas leaders, and Fatah chief Abu Mazen has reportedly ordered a counter-attack in Judea and Samaria.
Analyst Gideon Greenfeld of the Reut Institute says that Israel may soon have to deal with not one, but two Palestinian entities - Hamastan in Gaza and Fatahland in Samaria/Judea. A Hamas victory may work against it, Greenfeld explains, in that it is likely to turn the international community against it, will force Hamas to deal with administrative issues, will sharpen its dispute with Egypt, and more.
One specific ramification of a Hamas victory is that without Hamas recognition of the Oslo Accords, it cannot demand that Israel fulfill its Oslo-obligation to provide a land-corridor between Gaza and Judea. Fatah, however, does recognize Olso.
The Reut Institute is a non-partisan policy team that works pro-bono with the Government of Israel, chiefly in areas of national security and socio-economics. “
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‘Analyst Gideon Greenfield’ is invoking the ghost of the ‘Oslo Accords’ (Jimmy Carter’s contribution to the chaos)....
Amazing.....
Hamas TV: We’ll execute Fatah leaders
YNet ^ | 06.14.07, 13:08 | Ali Waked
Posted on 06/14/2007 6:51:56 AM CDT by Esther Ruth
Hamas TV: We’ll execute Fatah leaders
Organization completes takeover of Preventive Security Service headquarters in Gaza Strip, one of PA’s symbols. Hamas TV broadcasts from inside building, displaying weapons ‘sent by Israel’; gunmen declare, ‘This is the first step in the establishment of an Islamic state’
Ali Waked Published: 06.14.07, 13:08 / Israel News
Hamas gunmen on Thursday afternoon completed the takeover of the central building of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service’s headquarters in the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas members took over vehicles and weapons in the compound, which is considered the Palestinian Authority’s main symbol in the Strip. The Preventive Security Service cooperated with Israel in the past and is identified with Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan.
The gunmen who entered the compound held a prayer there and waved a flag on the building’s rooftop. Hamas’ television station is broadcasting from inside the compound, where senior Hamas members had been questioned in the past.
The Hamas TV also broadcasted a display of weapons inside the building, as well as jeeps, mortar shells and bulletproof vests seized in the compound, which according to Hamas, were smuggled to Fatah by Israel and the Americans in the past few months through the border with Egypt.
Name changed, as well as mission
Hamas members held a prayer in the compound, which they referred to as the “heresy compound.” Hamas also changed the name of the neighborhood where the building is located from “Tel al-Hawa” to “Tel al-Islam.”
Hamas’ media outlets threatened to reach Fatah and the PA’s official radio and telelvision stations, and provided the names of senior Fatah officials they planned to execute. “We will reach you,” Hamas members told the Fatah leaders.
Meanwhile, the gunmen collected weapons and ammunitions from the Fatah members’ homes and from families affiliated with them.
Displaying weapons (Photo: AFP)
“This is the first step in the establishment of the Islamic state,” a Hamas member told Ynet from inside the Preventive Security Service building. “This is Islam’s victory, Allah’s victory, and we pray to Allah for brining us this victory.”
Hamas officials announced that the building would turn into a college for religion studies, and that the Sariya – the PA’s government office building – would turn into a large religious center.
Aides to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he had given the first order to his elite presidential guard to strike back against Hamas rivals.
According to reports, the Palestinian president was looking into the possibility of declaring the disbandment of the Palestinian government and parliament, as well as declaring the Gaza Strip a “rebelling district” and saying that the only legal and official rule in the Palestinian Authority was in Ramllah.
This would force Hamas to decide whether it wants to run the Strip on its own, with all the political and economic consequences. PA officials said that Hamas did in fact smuggle large sums of money into the Strip, but that they doubted whether these sums would be able to fund the Strip’s activity for more than a short period.
Hamas sources said that after taking over the Preventive Security Service building, they would move to Muntada and Ansar compounds, where Abbas’ office and the rest of the PA’s security headquarters are located, and would also take over the Palestinian television building.
Meanwhile, Fatah has begun broadcasting security instructions to the Palestinian security officers on television, calling on them not to surrender to Hamas. The television warned of a military coup and cautioned the Palestinians not to be lured in by the propaganda and the psychological war led by Hamas.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1849987/posts
If Fatah got caught with their pants down on this one, boy that was blind...I knew it was on the edige of happening...
Its beginning to look like its going to be Hamas to the South and Hizbola to the North. That is not a good scenario for Israel.
Not a good scenario at all...
” boy that was blind “
Drawing attention back to my previous remark about ‘policies based in wishful thinking’, anybody with half-a-brain (me, for example) could tell that any ‘power sharing’ arrangement in the area was unstable - even volatile.
The Western diplomatic community, with the collusion of the Olmert government, has not served anyone well.......
And in the face of all of this, you get this unbelievable editorial in the Daily Star:
Hamas continues a Palestinian tradition of wasting opportunities
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Editorial
The leaked end-of-mission report by resigned United Nations envoy Alvaro de Soto is a convincing indictment of the world body’s co-option by US and Israeli interests. “Even-handedness has been pummeled into submission,” de Soto wrote, resulting in “devastating consequences” for Palestinians and “precisely the opposite” of what the international community had been trying to achieve. He condemned Israel’s policies as “perversely designed to encouraged the continued action by Palestinian militants” and the tendency of US officials “to cower before any hint of Israeli displeasure and to pander shamelessly before Israeli-linked audiences.”
There is little that has emerged from de Soto’s report with which an objective observer might disagree. In fact, it only confirms that at least some people within the UN are least as disappointed by its recent stance as many of those on the outside. The situation is made all the more frustrating, however, by the dismal performance of the major Palestinian factions - especially Hamas, whose victory in last January’s elections prompted and/or exacerbated so many of the errors listed by de Soto. Given widening realization that punishing the Palestinian people for having put the Islamist group in power was an epic policy failure, the time was almost ripe for a consensus acceptance of Hamas’ popular legitimacy and the potential resumption of a viable peace process.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb
Instead, the bloody clashes between Hamas and Fatah have robbed the Palestinian people of an opportunity to attract increased sympathy for their cause - and Hamas of a chance to enhance its credibility as a responsible party ready and able to wield (and share) power with grace and maturity.
The history of the Palestinian national movement is replete with examples of moments that could have been decisive if only they had been seized. Given the formidable nature of the forces arrayed against them and their aspirations, the Palestinian people can ill-afford such fundamentally flawed leadership. If Hamas wants to demonstrate that it genuinely deserves the mandate it received in January 2006, it has to start breaking this habit of self-destruction - and the logical first step is an immediate halt to the internecine fighting with Fatah.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&article_id=83001&categ_id=17
Just unbelievable.
” There’s a thread for that one: “
OOPS....
Post in haste, repent in leisure....
Thanks for catching that, Knitting......
Running for cover.....
OIC not in favour of Gaza international force
Reuters ^ | 14 June 2007
Posted on 06/14/2007 6:58:22 AM CDT by Racehorse
The Organisation of Islamic Conference does not see the need of an international force along the Gaza-Egypt border to help counter growing Hamas strength, the OIC’s secretary-general said on Thursday.
Faced with the prospect of a Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said an international force along the territory’s border with Egypt should be considered.
But the 57-nation OIC, the world’s biggest grouping of Islamic nations, said it would oppose the plan.
“I think what is needed is not external forces, it needs a better understanding between internal forces,” OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, in Malaysia for a visit, told reporters.
“I do think that there is a need for a strong leadership on behalf of all political leaders and the situation cannot be allowed to further deteriorate.
“The leadership must immediately show its strength and resolution in implementing the necessary action,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1849989/posts
But Hamas agrees with OIC....
Hamas rejects multinational force along Gaza-Egypt border
Haaretz ^ | 14:50 14/06/2007 | Yoav Stern and Avi Issacharoff
Posted on 06/14/2007 7:15:09 AM CDT by Esther Ruth
Last update - 14:50 14/06/2007
Hamas rejects multinational force along Gaza-Egypt border
By Yoav Stern and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents, and news agencies
Hamas said Thursday that it would refuse to accept a multinational force along the Gaza-Egypt border and would treat it as an occupying power.
“Hamas rejects any dispatch of foreign forces to the Gaza Strip,” Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said. “The movement would regard those forces as occupation forces no different to the Israeli occupation, regardless of their nationality.”
A multinational force in Gaza was suggested by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas during separate phone conversations Tuesday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who in turn discussed it with the Security Council on Wednesday.
A top official of the world’s main Muslim body also rejected the idea of deploying a multinational force in Gaza to stop the fighting between Fatah and Hamas groups, insisting Thursday that the Palestinians need strong leadership.
“These are the same people,” Ihsanoglu said, referring to the Hamas and Fatah fighters who have been locked a fierce power struggle since Hamas won parliamentary elections last year. Their battles have escalated in recent days as Hamas began a systematic assault on security forces to take over Gaza.
“What is needed is not external forces. What is needed is a better understanding between internal forces, said Ihsanoglu who is in Kuala Lumpur to attend a health ministers’ conference of the 57-member OIC of which the Palestinian territory is also a member,” he said.
Ihsanoglu said he has been in contact with Abbas and other Palestinian leaders, and has told them to show more strength of leadership.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1849997/posts
This is gonna work out well..
PA Minister: Hamas, Fatah to attend Egyptian-brokered talks in Gaza
www.haaretz.com ^ | 15:12 14/06/2007
Posted on 06/14/2007 7:21:58 AM CDT by Esther Ruth
PA Minister: Hamas, Fatah to attend Egyptian-brokered talks in Gaza
By News Agencies
Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said Thursday that warring Hamas and Fatah factions are to attend an Egyptian-brokered meeting in the Gaza Strip later in the day.
The information could not be confirmed independently, however.
In recent days, Hamas, which is close to taking military control of Gaza, has repeatedly refused to attend Egyptian-brokered truce talks.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah was to make a decision Thursday on how to respond to the Hamas military camaign in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the PLO decision-making body recommended Thursday that Abbas declare a state of emergency and dismantle the Palestinian unity government in response to Hamas’ near-takeover of Gaza, an aide said.
Abbas said he would review the recommendations and make decision within hours, said Nabil Amr.
One Abbas aide, speaking on condition of anonymity because no decision had been made, said the PA chairman was considering dissolving the unity government it entered with Hamas in March.
Earlier in the week, Fatah ministers suspended their activities in the government due to the Gaza violence, but stopped short of dismantling the partnership.
The unity government was formed in a bid to stem a previous round of violence, and in the hopes of easing the international boycott imposed in the wake of the Hamas election victory in January 2006. Neither aim was achieved.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1850004/posts
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Ummmmmmm... Okay.......
“......and in the hopes of easing the international boycott imposed in the wake of the Hamas election victory in January 2006. Neither aim was achieved.”
Now, somebody start telling us that the real reason for all the violence is REALLY because the boycott wasn’t canceled, and as soon as we all start paying off those Hamas types, everything will go to butterflies and sunshine.
Riiiiiight.
Only good thing that I can see in this is that the targeting list just lost one entry, so that we can now concentrate fire formerly assigned to Fatah to Hamas or Hezzi.
Report: Fatah blows up security post to keep it from falling to Hamas
Published: 06.14.07, 17:13 / Israel News
An explosion rocked Gaza on Thursday afternoon, and plumes of white smoke rose from the direction of a security post. Fatah security officials said forces positioned at the post redeployed elsewhere, and blew it up as they left rather than let Hamas take it over. (AP)
A brief break from the Gaza mess to catch up on what our (and Ahmanutjob’s) little buddy, Hugo, has been up to.....
Venezuela’s Chavez to finalise Russian submarines deal
www.breitbart.com ^ | Jun 14, 2007 | AP
Posted on 06/14/2007 9:59:09 AM CDT by Freeport
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is expected to finalise a deal on buying up to nine Russian submarines during a visit here later this month, a Russian newspaper reported on Thursday. Caracas has already ordered five 636-type diesel submarines and four of a new model of diesel submarine, the 677E Amur, the Kommersant broadsheet said, quoting unnamed sources in the ship-building and arms export sectors.
Chavez may have to settle for the older 636 submarines for the time being as the new 677E Amur has not yet been presented to Russia’s own navy, a source at the arms export agency Rosoboronexport said.
“To start off with they were insisting on only the Amurs but were then persuaded to take the 636 vessels,” the source told Kommersant.
The paper said Chavez planned to visit Russia on June 29, less than a year after a visit last July, the paper said.
If it goes ahead, the deal is likely to become a “new irritant in relations between Moscow and Washington,” the paper commented.
Venezuela has become a major buyer of Russian arms in recent years, angering the United States, which worries about Chavez’s anti-American tone.
Since 2005 Caracas has spent 3.4 billion dollars (2.6 billion euros) on arms from Russia, including 24 fighter planes, 35 military helicopters, air defence systems and 100,000 kalashnikov rifles, the paper said.
Venezuela wants the submarines in order to overcome a possible US naval blockade, the paper said.
The deal “could become a new irritant in relations between Moscow and Washington,” Kommersant said.
Between 2004 and 2006 Russia supplied eight of the 636 submarines to China and is now building two such submarines for Algeria, Kommersant added.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1850111/posts
Also, he wants everybody to know he can attack underwater? The only ones he has been able to attack at all are his own defenseless people.
What a maroon.
” old Russian attack subs that we can sink without breaking a sweat. “
And how many assets needed elsewhere will our Navy need to allocate to keeping an eye on Hugo’s little bathtub toys??
He doesn’t need to fire a shot to weaken our efforts around the world.
Don’t - repeat, DON’T - underestimate the combination of Iran, Russia, and, in our own backyard, Venezuela to make our lives difficult......
Assuming I am in my right mind (big jump there), and I haven't underestimated that scenario, where is Hugo going to get Sub drivers let alone Sub Commanders? Are the Russians going to give up theirs?
Granted, the Russians may teach Hugo's guys but there isn't any experience or knowledge base for Hugo to draw from.
Oh - I dunno just chewing on it Ike.
Abbas calls for deployment of multi-national force in Gaza
Jerusalem Post ^ | 6-14-07 | KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Ramallah - Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday night issued a “presidential decree” dissolving the Hamas-led unity government and declaring a state of emergency in the Palestinian territories, PA officials here said.
They added that Abbas informed representatives of the Quartet of his decision and asked for their backing.
Abbas phoned US Secretary of State Condaleezza Rice and briefed her on the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, the officials added. They said Abbas was also planning to call for deploying an international force in the Gaza Strip to restore law and order.
“President Abbas has decided to fire the government,” said one official. “Ismail Haniyeh is no longer the prime minister and soon there will be a new government.”
Abbas’s decision was taken after two days of intensive discussions with Fatah leaders, who exerted heavy pressure on him to fire Haniyeh’s government.
Some of the Fatah leaders went as far as threatening to declare an open revolt against Abbas unless he began taking a series of measures in response to Hamas’s massive offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas scoffed at Abbas’s decision and expressed doubt that he would be able to implement it. “How can you declare a state of emergency if you don’t have a government to enforce it?” asked Hamas legislator Salah Bardaweel. “Only a government can enforce a state of emergency.”
Bardaweel pointed out that in any case a new government would have to be approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council, which is still dominated by Hamas.
He said that the situation in the Gaza Strip was improving now that Hamas was in full control. “Now we can start implementing our security plan for imposing law and order,” he said. “We even have no problem coordinating it with Fatah.”
According to Israel Radio, Hamas’s spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri, rejected Abbas’s announcement shortly afterward, claiming that according to Palestinian law, Abbas could not set up an emergency government.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1850276/posts
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