[AP/Washington Post] Karin Laub - Fatah gunmen in Nablus casually bragged about their latest exploit - kidnapping a Hamas city council member from a crowded downtown bank. The men are untouchable - the vanguard of Fatah's fight against Hamas in the West Bank. But vigilante violence is also driving the West Bank's largest city deeper into lawlessness, terrifying residents and hurting Fatah's attempted political comeback after its election defeat by Hamas last year. Fatah's armed men, numbering between 150 and 200 in the Nablus area, have been trying to draw out Hamas gunmen to test their strength. Last month, Al Aqsa men fired toward a rally marking the anniversary of Hamas' election victory. Two dozen masked Hamas gunmen returned fire, and a civilian was killed by a stray bullet in his home.
2007-02-02 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive