[Ha'aretz] Avi Issacharoff - The celebrations in Ramallah and Gaza on Saturday of the PA unity government could all too quickly turn into a burial ceremony for Fatah. The movement over the past year presented itself as a clear political alternative to Hamas. Now it has become Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's closest ally. Hamas has not changed its ideology: no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with it and "the resistance"; in other words, violence will go on. Corruption in PA institutions and the chaos on the streets are identified with Fatah and its security forces. Above all, the feeling is widespread that no one is in charge in Fatah. Hamas is continuing its quiet revolution. Recently 11 Hamas members were appointed to senior posts in the PA Education Ministry, and the number of hours of religious studies has been increased by about 20%.
2007-03-20 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive