Civil War in Palestine?

[Macky-Mac]

from the BBC;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6185241.stm


Abbas calls for Palestinian poll

Mr Abbas was speaking in Ramallah

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held at the "earliest opportunity".
He was speaking live on Palestinian TV after days of escalating tensions between Hamas and his Fatah movement that have raised fears of civil war.

Hamas, elected in January, immediately rejected the move as a "coup attempt".

Hours after Mr Abbas spoke, armed supporters of Fatah and Hamas exchanged gunfire in the southern Gaza Strip....



will this increase the amount of violence among the Palestians? or will they manage to find some way to avoid escalating the current fighting?

[Desertrat]

Hmmm. That's sorta like the Crips and Bloods going at it. One can but hope...

'Rat

[clayj]

One can but hope...What, that they'll wipe each other out and settle the whole Palestine issue once and for all? ;)

[solvs]

What, that they'll wipe each other out and settle the whole Palestine issue once and for all? ;)

And take a whole lot of innocent people with them...

Yeah, great idea. :rolleyes:

[Kalns]

Maybe if they layed down their guns and I don't know....maybe tried living TOGETHER with the Israeli's they could solve this whole thing.

[takao]

And take a whole lot of innocent people with them...

Yeah, great idea. :rolleyes:

who just happen to have voted for the hamas ;)

sometimes i wonder how many innocent people are there still left on all sides in the middle east

[Queso]

Maybe if they layed down their guns and I don't know....maybe tried living TOGETHER with the Israeli's they could solve this whole thing.
These would be the same Israelis that took their country from them, yes?

Don't think that's likely somehow...

[solvs]

sometimes i wonder how many innocent people are there still left on all sides in the middle east

More than you'd think.

Besides, you wouldn't go advocating the US getting blown up because half of us voted for someone would you? ;) Wait, don't answer that. :p And yes, I get the irony that some want to do just that. But for those caught in the crossfire who have nothing to do with this, yes, I do have a problem with that.

[Macky-Mac]

should the USA provide military support for Fatah?

some excerpts from an article posted on the Aljazeera English site on Monday;

(for the whole artcle) http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/03338AED-5317-4328-A3EA-DC99977F3C42.htm



"US and EU visit Fatah training base

US and European officials have visited a base in Jordan where Fatah is training troops to reinforce Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, in any showdown with Hamas.

Up to 1,000 members of the Badr Brigade would initially be deployed in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as part of US-backed efforts to strengthen Abbas's hold on power.

The Bush administration is seeking congressional support to provide up to $100m to bolster Abbas's presidential guard and expand his control over strategic border crossings.

Official sources said US money would not be used to provide the presidential guard with "lethal" equipment.

But Israeli officials say Washington has been instrumental in helping organise shipments of guns and ammunition to the presidential guard from Egypt and Jordan.

It is unclear whether any of the US money would go directly to the Badr Brigade.

.....(snip!)......


... A military official from a European country visited the base separately to talk to Badr commanders and assess their needs, the sources said.

The US has so far not provided Badr troops with training or equipment, but has assisted with co-ordinating preparations for their deployment, sources said. Israel has signalled support for Badr's deployment.

It has been under US and European pressure to take steps to bolster Abbas after his call for early elections.


.....(snip again!)......


Abbas's presidential guard currently has about 3,700 members.

With aid from the US and its allies, Abbas hopes to expand it to 4,700 members in 12 to 18 months.

Hamas says its own Executive Force has nearly 6,000 members and will be expanded. Hamas receives funding from Iran and other Islamist allies."

[nbs2]

Abbas's presidential guard currently has about 3,700 members.

With aid from the US and its allies, Abbas hopes to expand it to 4,700 members in 12 to 18 months.

Hamas says its own Executive Force has nearly 6,000 members and will be expanded. Hamas receives funding from Iran and other Islamist allies."

PROXY FIGHT! Ahhh.....nothing brings history to life like reenactments. Now all the kids in school will get to understand the Cold War a little better...