(Ynet News) Sever Plocker - Since elections to the Palestinian parliament in January, Mahmoud Abbas has steadily lost his grip on the reigns of power, while Hamas has established itself as the only legitimate ruling power. Abbas threatened and raged, but Hamas established its own legal militia and security apparatus. Slowly, the Palestinian parliament is passing Islamic laws to replace the secular laws enacted by the PLO. It is incorrect to describe the violent clashes between Fatah and Hamas as the opening battles of a civil war. There is no organized political-military force to oppose Hamas today. Fatah gunmen want only to be integrated into the new apparatus without losing their standing or (mainly) their salaries. There will be no bypassing Hamas in the PA today, not with regard to leadership or with regard to aid.
2006-05-23 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive