[New York Times] Steven Erlanger - "We all support resistance to the Israelis," said Hitam Abed Rabo, 33, who supports Hamas. "They [the Israelis] talk about responding to rockets, but nothing justifies what the Israelis did here. They have to be confronted with strong resistance, so they don't come back." Will firing rockets on Israeli towns bring independence and freedom? "Yes," she said. "Absolutely." Ayash Abed Rabo, 34, her cousin, scoffed. "These rockets are a joke," he said. "We want to live. We want peace. I don't want Israel here, and I don't want resistance." It was a conversation that, in various forms, was repeated across Gaza this week. There is anxiety in Gaza about Hamas, which has moved swiftly to consolidate its power and whose armed policemen and military men are visible in the streets. They provide order and have ended security chaos and much crime, but they are also an intimidating force, smoothly breaking up a Fatah rally called for Wednesday by changing its venue, turning back buses of supporters trying to reach Gaza City, and putting hundreds of men, armed with guns and wooden sticks, along the streets.
2008-03-06 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive