Thursday, August 16, 2007

Must we choose poison?

Hamas Optimism vs. Fatah Despair -Dan Murphy

"Audiences in the U.S. have a strong feeling of black and white and they're betting on which side will win based on whether it agrees with them," says Mouin Rabbani, an analyst. "But there's an issue that is overlooked: The virtual disintegration of Fatah."

[T]he local security forces are seen by many average citizens as unruly thugs.
(Christian Science Monitor)


Fatah Legislator Convicted in Tel Aviv Suicide Bombing -Ali Waked

Jamal Tirawi, a Fatah member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was convicted on Wednesday of having been an accomplice in a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv in March 2002.

According to the indictment, the suicide bomber that blew himself up in a coffee shop in the city made his way to Israel from Tirawi's Nablus home.
(Ynet News)

UPDATE:

Spending Aid to Palestinians Wisely - David Aaron and Ross Anthony

The Palestinian institutions of justice are feeble and often nonexistent. In many places there are no police to apprehend criminals, no place to jail them, no courts to try them, no judges, no prosecutors and no defense attorneys.

[M]easures must be put in place to ensure that international aid does not fall into the black hole of corruption. Hamas' election success was fed by public revulsion at blatant official theft by members of Fatah. Abbas will not regain credibility unless he puts an end to it.
(International Herald Tribune)

1 comment:

LHwrites said...

Yes, probably. After reading the entire article it is easy to see why Hamas is eager for reconciliation and Fatah is not. Hamas figures if there is a unity government again, eventually they can take over. Fatah fears the same. Hamas has some good ideas for making the people feel they are the right choice however, which is along the same rationale as when Abbas used money to pay salaries of Hamas soldiers. They are both playing to the audience, hoping for a clear and decisive swing of the people to their way of thinking. What other choices can you see for the Palestinians, short of unacceptable and violent actions?