[Reuters ] Wafa Amr - Conflict between Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction and rival Islamist Hamas has damaged the fabric of Palestinian society and torn families apart, especially in Gaza. "One of our neighbors refused to receive mourners from Hamas at his house," said Ahmed Youssef, a Hamas official in Gaza. "When a man goes to ask for a woman's hand in marriage, her family now inquires about his political affiliation first." He also spoke of marriages that had broken down in divorce over politics since last year's factional violence. "It is now common for a member of Hamas to hide his face behind a mask and arrest his brother from Fatah," said Palestinian commentator Talal Okal.
2008-07-14 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive