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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Fatah brings forces into Gaza from Egypt
2007-05-15
Hundreds of fighters loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction crossed into Gaza from Egypt on Tuesday as possible reinforcements in fighting against Hamas militants, Western sources say. Fatah said the group that crossed into Gaza did not do so to fight Hamas.
"They're coming for a, ah.., class reunion. Yeah, that's it."
The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was briefly opened to readmit a 450-strong Fatah contingent into the coastal strip, according to the sources, who spoke in Israel on condition of anonymity.
The sources said the crossing was opened, with Israeli consent, in only one direction to allow in the Fatah contingent. Once they crossed into Gaza, the crossing was re-closed. The men were not carrying heavy equipment.

The move came as fighting intensified in Gaza between Abbas's Fatah forces and those loyal to the ruling Hamas movement. In the fiercest battle, at least eight members of Abbas's Presidential Guard were killed in an attack by Hamas gunmen near Gaza's Karni commercial crossing with Israel, security officials said. "The role of the security forces is to protect the security of the Palestinian people and not to take part in internal fighting," Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, Fatah's spokesman in Gaza Strip and the West Bank. "They had been sent for training. It was a rehabilitation course that had nothing with any intention of fighting Hamas, or anyone else," he added.

Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz said Israel would not intervene in the fighting.
"Hey, they want to kill each other, who am I to argue?"
The 450 fighters are loyal to Abbas's national security adviser, Mohammad Dahlan. Western officials say Dahlan, recuperating from leg surgery in Egypt, recently sent about 500 men loyal to Fatah to Egypt to receive more advanced instruction in police tactics, according to Western diplomats. Abbas could also dispatch thousands of reinforcements from the occupied West Bank and draw upon the Jordan-based Badr Brigade, a Fatah-dominated force that includes at least 1,000 members.

But a senior Western diplomat involved in the matter played down the chances that Abbas would deploy either his West Bank or Jordanian-based forces. "They won't go," the diplomat said.
Posted by:Steve

#9  The sources said the crossing was opened, with Israeli consent, in only one direction to allow in the Fatah contingent. Once they crossed into Gaza, the crossing was re-closed.

Release the Egyptian hounds, Smithers Peretz.

They had been sent for training

“The number four truncheon is useful for producing painful contusions but when a genuine concussion is the desired result only a number seven truncheon should be used. When your opponent engages you always aim at their feet and away from your own. A weapon’s safety must be permanently disabled as a critical expression of Arab manhood while gun sex remains the only acceptable method of expressing one's personal approval during weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, office functions, retirements, political rallies, shopping excursions, Tupperware™ parties, a successful bowel movement and other such important events.”

These events in Gaza will reduce the political pressure for Israel to withraw from the West Bank to zero. Even the Palestinians living there might begin to understand that there are worse things than Israeli rule.

Apostate, you sorely underestimate:

A.) Arab hatred for anything and everything Jewish.

B.) The global community's overwhelming anti-Semitism.

C.) The Palestinians' adamant refusal to take responsibility for anything.

D.) How Israel is blamed for everything including post-nasal drip.

E.) How Arab Muslims are not on speaking terms with the truth.

G.) How Muslims can do no wrong and Israel can do no right.

H.) Just how totally fucked up the entire situation really is.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-05-15 19:23  

#8  Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-05-15 14:00  

#7  These events in Gaza will reduce the political pressure for Israel to withraw from the West Bank

clearly, you don't see the pattern. when there is Israel-palestinian fighting, it's Israel's fault. When there's palestinian-palestinian fighting, it's because of the occupation, which is Israel's fault. When Israel makes peace overtures, like evacuating gaza, it's because an admission by Israel of its oppressive policies, although not nearly enough.

If Israel packed up and left tomorrow, they'd be blamed for not providing support so the palis could take over easily.
Posted by: PlanetDan   2007-05-15 12:45  

#6  Bringing in outside hitters ("stone killers") is an old and honored tradition in gang wars. It put Lucky Luciano on top of the Italian mob.
Posted by: mojo   2007-05-15 12:05  

#5  A definition please of "heavy equipment" in this context.

No tanks, artillery, tracked vehicles, etc. Likely carrying small arms, since the article didn't say "Unarmed".
Posted by: Steve   2007-05-15 11:44  

#4  Apostate, nothing will reduce international pressure on Israel. Cause it's not a matter of concern for "Palestinians". It's the inability to accept the existence of a Jewish state.
Posted by: gromgoru   2007-05-15 11:09  

#3  These events in Gaza will reduce the political pressure for Israel to withraw from the West Bank to zero. Even the Palestinians living there might begin to understand that there are worse things than Israeli rule.
Posted by: Apostate   2007-05-15 10:22  

#2  A definition please of "heavy equipment" in this context.
Posted by: 3dc   2007-05-15 10:21  

#1  That mecca agreement sure is working well.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2007-05-15 10:05  

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