(Jerusalem Post) Barry Rubin - While Fatah is somewhat less horrible than Hamas, it is Fatah's past incitement, terrorism, and refusal to make real peace that are at the root of the current situation. There is no reason to believe it would do better in the future if restored to power. Fatah is certainly not competing with Hamas by laying out an alternative, moderate line. If Fatah so wished, it could take the option available to it for a decade and urge an end to the eternal struggle with Israel that would quickly win it a state and international support. While a few people in Fatah do think this way, Abbas among them to some extent, there is no sign that anyone is seriously considering such a strategy. Instead, Fatah is competing to prove it is just as militant as the Islamists, including the escalation of its own attempts at terrorism. Since the election victory of Hamas, Fatah statements and actions are more, rather than less, extreme.
2006-04-23 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive