West Bank cities are bracing themselves for the deadly turmoil restricted until recently to Gaza as violent infighting between Fatah and Hamas spills over into the West Bank. Reports of heavy gunbattles between Hamas and Fatah Jenin poured in on Saturday night while in Gaza three members of a Hamas-affiliated family were killed by Fatah gunmen. Earlier in the day the first signs of West Bank infighting emerged as gunmen abducted Nablus deputy mayor Mahdi al-Khamdali at gunpoint. Meanwhile in Ramallah gunmen, reportedly from Fatah, stormed the offices of the Hamas-controlled Ministry of the Interior, shot the office manager in his legs and abducted him. A Palestinian Authority security official told Ynet Saturday night that there is a grave chance that the internal power-struggle may take root in the West Bank. According to the official Hamas forces are preparing their ranks and stockpiling weapons. The source estimated however that should the situation in the West Bank come to an all-out battle between the warring factions Fatah would have the upper hand in the region. "But it is not a simple matter at all," said the source, "we've been seeing unprecendented 'import' efforts by Hamas over the past several months in terms of arms." The official said that the rise in demand for firearms by Hamas has already affected the arms-trade in the area, as prices skyrocket to almost double their original value.
"An M-16 (assault rifle) that was once worth about 6,000 Jordanian dinars (USD 8,450) is now bought for 10,000 dinars (USD 14,200), this signals that the fight against them (Hamas) will not be easy," said the PA official. The official also said that Fatah has been recruiting supporters, quietly strengthening its military wing in the West Bank; however he said "Hamas' stronghold is expected to be in the northern West Bank, in Nablus and Jenin. The question we must ask however is will the whole of the Fatah movement rally for such a confrontation?"
