Gaza's bullets
On the surface, infighting in the Gaza Strip between Fatah and Hamas appears to be factional, even tribal. For the past four months, Palestinians have been killing Palestinians. But they're not alone in this, and anyway it is not the whole story of what's happening.
In a rare but telling confession Tuesday, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abul-Gheit pointed an accusing finger to "hidden hands" behind the infighting. He didn't name them, but it's no secret that both Israel and the US want Hamas out of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
In January, the Bush administration said it would provide $86.4 million to strengthen security forces loyal to PA President Mahmoud Abbas in his power struggle with Hamas. Much of this US taxpayer's money went to funding and arming Abbas's presidential guard, again, to counter Hamas, which was democratically elected by the Palestinian people in January 2006. And as if creating armed militias to wreak havoc in already volatile Gaza wasn't enough, the international community continues punishing 1.3 million Palestinians living in the Strip for choosing their own leaders by heeding Israel's calls to maintain a siege that is literally starving Gazans.
Despite these difficult and inhumane conditions, the Hamas government has continued to work hard to win the international community's approval. But as it progressed -- much to Israel's dismay -- so did trouble in Gaza, which eventually exploded into street fighting, rendering the "red line" of spilling Palestinian blood meaningless.
It's a shame that Fatah, which was once a national liberation movement, is now, according to many, Israel's pawn, used in Gaza to squash Hamas. When Hamas was elected last year, Fatah's reputation was associated with corruption and political incompetence. It's no wonder that the majority of Palestinians voted for those they deemed clean and genuine instead.
The truth about the situation in Gaza is that none of warring parties will walk out of this mayhem victorious. Fatah's popularity has been damaged beyond repair. Meanwhile, Israel is attacking Hamas, despite the movement's efforts to demonstrate pragmatism and flexibility. Last week Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh published an article in The Guardian stating his commitment to liberating 1967 Palestine without reference to 1948 borders. It should be hailed as a turning point in the movement's discourse. Ever since it came to power, Hamas confined itself to politics, putting on hold its armed struggle against Israel. In fact, they've approved truce after truce with Israel, despite the latter's provocations following each ceasefire agreement.
Israel is making a great mistake by declaring war on Hamas. It is also committing a crime by fuelling the infighting in Gaza that thus far has claimed the lives of over 600 Palestinians in recent months. The question is: does Israel really benefit from this? It is pushing a moderate Hamas out of power, not only hammering the final nail in Oslo's coffin, but also inviting Salafist Al-Qaeda to breed on the rage that will be left behind. When that happens, it won't have a "peace partner". Though it claimed so before, it will be the first time.
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/849/ed.htm