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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Is Mahmoud Abbas planning a coup?

2006-10-27

Hamas has instructed its followers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to be on high alert following unconfirmed reports that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah party are planning a coup against the Hamas government on Saturday. Sources close to Hamas told The Jerusalem Post that the Islamic movement was taking these reports seriously and that hundreds of Hamas militiamen would be deployed in strategic areas in the Gaza Strip to foil any attempt to overthrow the Hamas government.

Hamas's "Executive Force" in the Gaza Strip has also been placed on high alert and security around top Hamas officials has been beefed up, the sources revealed. According to the sources, Hamas leaders have expressed fear that Fatah gunmen and PA policemen loyal to Abbas would try to occupy a number of PA ministries and institutions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Saturday. "Hamas is convinced that Abbas is planning a coup," the sources added. "It could happen as early as this weekend."

On Thursday afternoon, Abbas summoned four Hamas ministers to his office in Ramallah and assured them that he was not planning a coup against the Hamas government. Abbas also phoned PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to deny the reports.

Posted by:Fred

#6 With all due respect, gorb, I doubt it.

Yeah, I know. I was just hoping the pain would be turned down to excruciating for the near future, at least.

Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll take each other out. It seems that anarchy would be better than what is going on over there now.

Posted by: gorb 2006-10-27 13:06

#5 "It could happen as early as this weekend."

Ahhhwasnt there supposed to be a massive Israeli invasion planned for this weekend? These guys really need to coordinate their calendars.

Posted by: DepotGuy 2006-10-27 11:25

#4 Popcorn sales skyrocket...film at eleven.

Posted by: tu3031 2006-10-27 10:21

#3 Never really thought I'd say this, but I hope so. And I hope it is just a stepping stone to a much better and more decent government.

With all due respect, gorb, I doubt it. Firstly, we're talking about Abbas and Fatah here, who were trained by, led by, and given a model to emulate, in the GrandMaster of Graft and Deceit, Yassir Arafat. This would be a coup led by the old guard, so it will be a return to business as usual.

Secondly, we're talking about the Palestinians here: utterly nothing has happened, and absolutely no evidence has appeared, to indicate that they have kicked the habit of consistently missing an opportunity when opportunity knocks whilst riding a D-9 through the door.

Posted by: Ptah 2006-10-27 09:36

#2 Never really thought I'd say this, but I hope so. And I hope it is just a stepping stone to a much better and more decent government.

Posted by: gorb 2006-10-27 01:19

#1 Might be better off flying the coup

Posted by: Captain America 2006-10-27 00:36

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