Article

2006-05-04 Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Gunmen from Palestines Fatah movement on Wednesday announced the formation of a 2000-strong militia designed to counter new police forces loyal to the Islamist Hamas government.

I've always found forming a militia to be the best solution to most problems, too...

Another milita? What was wrong with Force 17 and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade?

The creation of such forces has intensified fears among many Palestinians of violence between feuding factions that could destabilise a chaotic security set-up.

Popcorn! Getcher popcorn right here! Peanuts! Popcorn! Crackerjacks!

Eighty men drafted from disparate Fatah cells jumped over burning tyres and performed other drills in the Gaza Strip, where internal tensions have mounted since Israeli forces and settlers withdrew last year.

Seasoned troops in the civilized world don't spend quite so much time jumping over burning tires...

Hamas crushed Fatah, owing allegiance to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, in January elections, only to be shunned by the West after taking power. The aid cut-off that followed has deepened poverty in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, spreading rancour that has erupted into street battles.

The rioting, fist fights, face-making, moustache cursing, and shootouts haven't helped, either...

Saeed Seyam, the interior minister and a senior Hamas official, last week mobilised 3000 new paramilitary police in what he called a move to crush lawlessness and oust Palestinian squatters from evacuated Jewish settlements. But some in Fatah suspected that the move was intended to consolidate Hamas's power and control over dwindling Palestinian resources.

No! Reeeeeeeaaaally?

"We formed the new force in a challenge to the force Hamas had formed and which we regard as illegal," Al-Muatasem Billah, a spokesman for the new Fatah militia, told Reuters on an impromptu military training ground in the Rafah refugee camp. "We do not wish to clash (with Hamas-led police), but if it happens, we will not stand handcuffed," he said as gunmen took aim and fired at targets in the distance.

Posted by Fred 2006-05-04 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11136 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Perhaps the civil war is in Paleo town rather than Iraq....media?

Posted by Captain America 2006-05-04 01:53|| 2006-05-04 01:53|| Front Page Top

#2 Make mine with extra butter.

Posted by gromgoru 2006-05-04 09:01|| 2006-05-04 09:01|| Front Page Top

#3 At some point for the Palestinians it will come to a choice between guns and olive oil.

Posted by RWV 2006-05-04 09:28|| 2006-05-04 09:28|| Front Page Top

#4 And so it begins. Fatah becomes the new Hamas.

Posted by ed 2006-05-04 09:40|| 2006-05-04 09:40|| Front Page Top

#5 AAMB not enough? AAMB isnt loyal to Abbas, Dahlan, et al. Its defied them for some time, its only diff from Hamas is over religion. Looks like a 3 sided battle - Abbas, Dahlan and the other members of the "Pals who know cause and effect" group, the secular crazies (AAMB) and the Islamist crazies (hamas and PIJ) Abbas/Dahlan were counting on the sec forces outnumbering the Hamas "militants" Since Hamas is trying to take over the sec forces, Abbas/Dahlan need to counter by having their own militia.

Basically everyone is mobilizing as much force as they can.

I wouldnt count on quiet.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2006-05-04 10:31|| 2006-05-04 10:31|| Front Page Top

#6 Can't we just set aside some very large area, maybe somewhere in either Iraq, Afganistan, or the surrounding area, Move all civilians out (Bribe them with having the Corps of Engineers build them new, modern, mortgage free homes) and then just herd all the baddies into the now deserted area.

Seal the borders and watch. Make no effort to deprive them of any weapons, let them take anything they want and can afford inside with them. Supply clean drinking quality water, but no electricity. Provide a "Trading Post" at points around the border, allow ahything to be traded EXCEPT, Weapons, Ammo, Poisions (Etc).

Inform them that they can do anything they want inside the area, but try to leave and die.

Kinda reminds me of the stories I read about the Warsaw Ghettos, but for deserving murderers, not just hated Jews.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2006-05-04 21:18|| 2006-05-04 21:18|| Front Page Top

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