[Times-UK] Sonia Verma - Many see the sharply increasing level of violence in Gaza as further evidence of the pointlessness of the current unity administration, because it has plainly failed to end the factional fighting that killed hundreds at the start of the year. It also aimed to restart international funding, which has not restarted, largely because of Hamas' continuing refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist and renounce terrorism. The most recent violence has had a particularly brutal and ominous edge to it. Sunday alone saw dozens of kidnappings and the execution of two Hamas-affiliated newspaper workers, dragged from their car at gunpoint at a Fatah checkpoint. In an atmosphere like this, many Palestinians will ask: "What is the point of having a government which seems incapable of presiding over its territory?" In truth, the only thing holding it together is that there is no will at the head of either Fatah or Hamas to leave the government and call a general election because both parties would not be confident of their chances in such a poll.
2007-05-18 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive