[Ha'aretz] Avi Issacharoff - Top Fatah officials in the territories who watched Arab television reports on the fighting in south Lebanon are aware that military achievements by Hizballah bolster support for Hamas among Palestinians. "Stopping the fighting now would be interpreted as an Israeli defeat, which would immediately affect events here, especially in the Gaza Strip," said a Fatah-Tanzim militia leader. "Islamic Jihad and Hamas will feel as if the victory were theirs, as will the Palestinian public - which equates Hizballah with Hamas. The moderate Palestinian camp will face collapse if Hizballah has the upper hand when this war is over." On the other hand, the images from the Shiite quarter in Beirut and from other places in Lebanon have sent the Palestinians and Hamas a message about what could happen in the West Bank and Gaza should Israel take action against them. ()
2006-07-27 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive