PA TRIES TO FORBID ARABS FROM SELLING LAND TO JEWS

The PLO/Fatah is back to their old ways of persecution of their own community again:

The Palestinian Authority's Preventive Security Service, cooperating with the PA's general intelligence service, recently undertook intensive activities to prevent the sale of land by Palestinians to Jews in east Jersualem, Ynet discovered.

In recent months, the PA investigated several real estate agents suspected of selling land in the capital to Jews, even resulting in arrests of some of the agents. PA sources said that the sales in question involved a large-scale amount of lands and properties.

Among the arrested real estate agents are those holding an Israeli ID card and those holding Palestinian Authority papers. They were also transferred to the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after the investigation.

PA sources reported that, while in Abbas' office, a senior official of the 'Supervision Committee', the PA body responsible for investigation internal corruption, became involved and brought about the close of the investigation.

One source said that the official, whose actions led to the release of the arrested real estate agents, was motivated to close the cases following by pressure from Israel.

Arabs have the right to sell property to Jews if they want. The real estate agents and owners are going to need protection now if they're to sell safely. And the police are going to need to make sure that these Fatah agents are not allowed within Jerusalem's boundaries.

HILARY CLINTON REARS HER UGLY HEAD, AND INTERFERES WITH ANOTHER COUNTRY'S BUSINESS

Israel's, of course. She opposes demolishing illegally built Arab houses:

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday promised vigorous and personal involvement in stalled Mideast peace efforts and criticized Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem as "unhelpful."

Clinton also displayed strong public support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The PA is the "only legitimate government of the Palestinian people," she told a news conference in Ramallah standing next to Abbas.

In recent days, Israel has issued orders for the demolition of dozens of Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem, saying the homes were built illegally.

Palestinians say they cannot receive proper building permits from Israeli authorities.

"Clearly, this kind of activity is unhelpful," Clinton said, adding that she would raise it with the Israeli government as well as municipal officials in Jerusalem. She said such actions violate the "road map."

Clinton spoke shortly after Israel issued a new order to demolish five residential buildings containing 55 apartments, said Hatem Abdul Qader, a Palestinian official on Jerusalem affairs.

"It's an open demographic war," he said. He said lawyers have challenged the orders, halting the demolitions until March 10.

Stephan Miller, a spokesman for city hall, said the buildings under demolition notice were empty and had been built illegally.

Abbas said Israel cannot be considered a peace partner if it keeps expanding settlements and demolishes homes in east Jerusalem. "The Israeli government has to respect its obligations under the road map and the two-state solution and completely stop all that is related to settlement and demolitions," he said.

Clinton signaled that she'd be heavily involved in the region, and said her special envoy, George Mitchell, would return soon.

"The Obama administration will be vigorously engaged in efforts to forge a lasting peace between Israel, Palestinians and all of the Arab neighbors. I will remain personally engaged," she said. "This is a commitment that I carry in my heart, not just in my portfolio."

Oh, does she ever. She is as bad as her husband, one of the worst leftist POTUS. On the other hand, she clearly is not concerned at all about something like this. All concerned should email the State Dept. to let her know your opposition to her interference.

TERRORIST CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA

Disgustingly enough on January 5th in St. Paul, Minnesota a conflagration ensued between supporters of the Hamas terrorist organization and Fatah partisans.

In the middle of this insanity was none other than Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison, who took his official congressional oath of office using the Koran, and, evidently, but NOT surprisingly likes to interact with enemies of the United States of America in a time of war!

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!

CEASE THE DHIMMITUDE...

Hat Tip: Flopping Aces

AVIGDOR LIEBERMAN IS JUST LIKE A LEFTIST

Some very appalling revelations have come up about Avigdor Lieberman, the head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party:

(IsraelNN.com) In a new book, former US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk has dropped a potential political bombshell, revealing that Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beitenu party, once held secret talks on territorial concessions to the Palestinian Authority (PA) with one of Yasser Arafat's key advisers.

In addition, Indyk asserts that Lieberman told his PA interlocutor, Muhammad Rachid, that he was prepared to accept the wide-ranging concessions which then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak had offered to Arafat at the 2000 Camp David Summit.

[...]

Indyk's revelations could prove damaging to Lieberman, whose party is soaring in the polls in advance of Israel's February 10 elections, thanks in large part to his nationalist image among the public.

Irene Etinger, Avigdor Lieberman's spokeswoman, commented on Indyk's claim, "The facts quoted in the book are not true."

Political observers suggest that Lieberman and his party are now likely to come under increased scrutiny in the wake of Indyk's book, particularly in light of Lieberman's past statements on the issue of Jerusalem.

As Israel National News reported previously, in October 2007 Lieberman came under fire for suggesting at a cabinet meeting that Israel should divide Jerusalem and transfer various neighborhoods within the city to PA control.

It doesn't do much good to deny what Indyk is telling in his new book if Lieberman really did say those things back at the time. The Jerusalem Post also spoke about Lieberman's peculiar standings at the time. If transferring sovereignty to the PLO were in any ways to lead to terrorists gaining footholds for carrying out their operations, to say nothing of safe haven from Israeli authorities, that's exactly why it's dangerous to do what Lieberman's supporting.

Now I see why I would rather vote for the Likud today, and would strongly advise others to do the same.

Speaking of which, over at the Biur Chametz blog, the blogmaster is appalled at Lieberman for simultaneously fanning the flames of hate against the Arabs. Hmm. I think I can expand a little further on that: aside from the strange double-standard Lieberman's maintaining, where he's blowing it is if he doesn't make any clear distinctions between Arabs and Muslims, and if he's not willing to offer a helping hand to Christians who could be persecuted by the Islamofascists.

If that's the case, then Lieberman is guilty not only of bizarre double-standards, he's also guilty of lacking any sense of selflessness. And I think the lesson to be learned from how Sderot and Ashkelon have fallen victim to rocket attacks can and does apply strongly to Jerusalem as well.

So Lieberman is simply not a recommended candidate, for the very fact that he does weird moral equations and double-standards and fails to show he can be selfless and help innocents in need.

Update: Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke about Lieberman's double-standard at his speech the other day.

PA COURT TO EXECUTE "SPY FOR ISRAEL"

The bad George Mitchell is coming here to Israel as an envoy. But will he take notice of the following?

(IsraelNN.com) A Palestinian Authority (PA) court has sentenced a 28 year old PA policeman to death for allegedly spying for Israel, and the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel thinks the United States envoy to the Middle East should be aware of this human rights violation.

The convict, a resident of the El Aroub neighborhood, was found guilty of assisting the IDF in the elimination of a terrorist in 2002, during the siege of the Church of Nativity. The convict served in the Presidential Guard in Bethlehem at the time. In addition, he allegedly assisted the IDF to arrest other terrorists.

I have a feeling that Mitchell will not take notice of this, but it is serious. No one who helps to fight against evil should be allowed to suffer a grisly fate as Mahmoud Abbas' gang is planning for the man mentioned.

ISRAELI COURT RULES THAT TERROR VICTIMS CAN SUE PA/FATAH

In a positive development, the Israeli court has followed up on a US ruling that victims of terrorism can sue the PA/Fatah for what they've been through:

Jerusalem District Court Judge Aharon Farkash ruled on Monday that it was possible to implement a 2004 US court ruling, according to which the Palestinian Authority must pay compensations of more than $116 million to terror victims' families.

In July 2004, a US court ruled that the Palestinian Authority was to pay some $116 million to the relatives of Yaron and Efrat Unger who were killed in a 1996 terror attack. But when the family asked authorities to enforce the court ruling in Israel, the Palestinian Authority objected, saying that paying the high compensations would lead to its financial collapse.

The Jerusalem District Court rejected the appeal made by the Palestinian Authority not to enforce the American ruling because the implementation would destroy it financially. The Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority said that payment of such high sums would have public, political, financial and security implications for Israeli citizens.

They claimed paying the high sum would empty the Palestinian Authority's coffers and would lead to more lawsuits against the Palestinian Authority.

The petition, filed in the US because the victims were American citizens, argued the Palestinian Authority was responsible for the attack carried out by Hamas because the terrorists were controlled by the Palestinian Authority and were assisted by the Palestinian security apparatuses.

Judge Farkash said that legally, the US court ruling qualified as a verdict that was enforceable in Israel. He added that the Palestinian claim that the ruling would lead to its financial collapse was not proven, and seemed unrealistic.

No matter what the turnout from such a development, they deserve collapse, and whatever else they get. The PA/Fatah is simply coming up with that pathetic excuse and sob story because they don't want to pay for their crimes, and those they allowed either. For their sins, they should be sued into the ground.

HEZBOLLAH SYMPATHISERS WERE ARRESTED BEFORE THEY COULD CARRY OUT POISON PLOT

In this disgusting news report, we learn that 2 Fatah collaborators who also side with Hezbollah were thankfully arrested before they could work on a plot to poison customers at a resturant they worked at:

Two Arabs from Nablus, Ahab Abu Riyal and Anas Salum, were arrested by Israeli Shin Bet officers last month before they could carry out their mission to poison Israelis on behalf of Hizballah. They are members of the Fatah-al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, part of Mahmoud Abbas' "moderate" Fatah organization.

The cell was led by two wanted terrorists, Hani Kabi and Husni Tsalag.

They were hired as kitchen workers by the Grill Express restaurant near the Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan, apparently after presenting Israeli-issued IDs allowing them to work in the country. Their orders were to dump a slow-acting colorless, tasteless and odorless poison in the food of customers. It would take effect after four hours, enough time to murder a large number of Israeli diners. The Shin Bet did not identify the substance.

One of the two men was detained on March 19, just days before the mission date. The second was picked up at the home of an Israeli Arab friend in Jaffa.

Israeli security forces consider poisoning diners at restaurants or cafes to be a "strategic attack". In the past, terror organizations have tried repeatedly to recruit Palestinian cooks and waiters to poison food at Israeli restaurants. Police note that the plan is a relatively easy means of carrying out a mass attack, as there is no need to smuggle sophisticated weapons into Israel and restaurant employees have free access to the attack site.

Businesses like resturants are going to have to consider the dangers of hiring people who adhere to Islam, since they could serve as agents who'd endanger the lives of their customers.

"PEACE PROCESS" CHARADE CONTINUES: NYTIMES CHASTIZES HAMAS, BUT GLOSSES OVER FATAH'S VIRULENT AND PERSISTENT ANTISEMITISM

NYTIMES:

In Gaza, Hamas’s Insults to Jews Complicate Peace
By STEVEN ERLANGER

GAZA — In the Katib Wilayat mosque one recent Friday, the imam was discussing the wiliness of the Jew.

“Jews are a people who cannot be trusted,” Imam Yousif al-Zahar of Hamas told the faithful. “They have been traitors to all agreements — go back to history. Their fate is their vanishing. Look what they are doing to us.”

At Al Omari mosque, the imam cursed the Jews and the “Crusaders,” or Christians, and the Danes, for reprinting cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. He referred to Jews as “the brothers of apes and pigs,” while the Hamas television station, Al Aksa, praises suicide bombing and holy war until Palestine is free of Jewish control.

Its videos praise fighters and rocket-launching teams; its broadcasts insult the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, for talking to Israel and the United States; its children’s programs praise “martyrdom,” teach what it calls the perfidy of the Jews and the need to end Israeli occupation over Palestinian land, meaning any part of the state of Israel.

Such incitement against Israel and Jews was supposed to be banned under the 1993 Oslo accords and the 2003 “road map” peace plan. While the Palestinian Authority under Fatah has made significant, if imperfect efforts to end incitement, Hamas, no party to those agreements, feels no such restraint.

YOU CAN'T BE A LITTLE PREGNANT, AND FATAH AND ABBAS ARE NO BETTER THAN HAMAS:

PA celebrates "wedding" of murderer of Yeshiva students
by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook, Mar 17, 2008

The official Palestinian Authority daily newspaper describes the murderer of eight yeshiva students in Jerusalem as a "groom" and his burial as his "wedding celebration."

The story in Mahmoud Abbas's Al Hayat Al Jadida goes on to evoke the neighborhood Jabal Mukaber's "week of anticipation... preparing themselves for the wedding procession."

The term "wedding" is the expression commonly used in PA society, and in PA schoolbooks as well, to describe the death of Shahids - Martyrs for Allah. According to Islamic tradition, they will wed the 72 Dark- Eyed Maidens (Virgins) of Paradise.

The article then reports the "shocking news" for the "thousands who were waiting" that the Israeli Army had decided to force a pre-dawn burial to prevent community celebrations of the murders and the murderer. It bemoans the fact "that the groom was buried in the [early] morning without a celebration and without a wedding procession."

However, the PA daily vows that the wedding celebrations will continue:

"The wedding will not end this way... it will last three consecutive days in which [the town] al-Sawahra will welcome all of those who come to congratulate the groom and will hang his portrait embracing the nation's flags."

Seeing the Martyr's death as a wedding can be found throughout Palestinian society. Some examples:

New Palestinian Schoolbook:

"... I will not cry during this wedding, as our Arabness does not want us to cry over the Shahids."
[Arabic Language and the Science of Language, grade 12, p. 13 (2006)]

THIS PROVES THAT THE NYTIMES IS WRONG. AND WRONG TO MINIMIZE THIS ISSUE.

• SADLY, BUSH AND RICE ARE PARTICIPATING WITH THE NYTIMES IN THIS DEADLY CHARADE.

• PRETENDING ABBAS IS BETTER WILL ONLY LEAD TO MORE BLOODSHED.

• IGNORING ALL THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ROADMAP CANNOT LEAD TO PEACE.

MORE HERE ON THE APPEASMENT BY BUSH OF FATAH.

GATEWAY COVERED THE FATAH NEWSPAPER ANGLE AT THE TIME HERE.

AGREEMENT AND MANY MORE LINKS HERE.

WASHINGTON CHOOSES WISELY

The Dubya administration, or the State Dept, or both, have wisely chosen to refrain from interfering in the case of American victims of terror suing the PLO:

The Bush administration on Friday declined to interfere in the case of American terror victims who are suing the Palestine Liberations Organization.

A judge in one of the multi-million dollar suits had asked the administration whether it wanted to weigh in on the cases, which the PLO has argued contradict American policy which is currently providing money to the cash-strapped Palestinians in an effort to bolster the population.

On Friday, US attorneys told the court the United States government would not be participating in this case, but held out the possibility that it might join in other similar suits.

"The United States supports just compensation for victims of terrorism from those responsible for their losses and has encouraged all parties to resolve these cases to their mutual benefit," the lawyers wrote. "At the same time, the United States remains concerned about the potentially significant impact that these cases may have on the financial and political viability of the defendants."

I don't suppose they'd be willing to consider the fact that, having provided the PLO/Fatah with tons of money before, any money they'd be foolish enough to continue providing would likely be wasted, as Neal Sher notes at the end of this JWR column?

State Department Spokesman Tom Casey said Friday afternoon that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salaam Fayad "have acknowledged that these individuals deserve compensation" and would like to "see some mechanism found to provide fair and just compensation to these individuals." Casey suggested the parties might be able to find "an equitable settlement" as has been arrived at in other terror-related cases.

I really doubt they recognize the victims' right to compensation. I really do.

David Strachman, a lawyer representing several of the bereaved family members, welcomed the administration's decision.

"We are grateful that at this time the US government has decided to support justice over terror and that it will not now enter the case to support the terrorists," he said in a statement. "On behalf of the families who have suffered so much, we will do everything we can to ensure that justice will prevail."

Leslye Knox, Strachman's client, also expressed relief at the decision. She and her family members have been awarded $192 million in damages from the PLO following a terror attack in Hadera which killed her husband, Aharon Ellis, leaving her a single mother with six children. It was her judgment on which the Bush administration was asked to take a position.

Following the decision, she said, "I am glad that the government will not interfere at this stage and am hopeful that it will refrain from supporting the legal position of the terrorists-defendants in the future."

They should refrain due to the simple fact that to interfere would be both immoral and unconstitutional.

FATAH CRUMBLES, AND DISORDER OVER LEBANON

Barry Rubin talks about how Fatah is already falling apart, practically splitting into several different factions, and also about the radical disorder over Lebanon.

IS LITTLE BOY MOHAMMED AL DURA ALIVE, GROWN UP, AND DID HE JUST GET MARRIED?

MATSAV HAS THE NEWS AND THE KEEN ORIGINAL ANALYSIS.

BOTTOM-LINE: THERE IS NO LOGICAL REASON TO ASSUME THAT THE MAN WHO WOULD FAKE HIS SON'S DEATH FOR JIHADIST PROPAGANDA WOULD THEN ACTUALLY KILL HIS SON, OR KEEP HIM ALIVE AND SEND HIM TO A MONASTERY.

HAMAS SLAYS AT LEAST 6 PEOPLE AT ARAFAT RALLY

The AP reports that more violence has taken place:

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Hamas security forces opened fire Monday at a rally by the rival Fatah movement commemorating Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Six people were killed in the bloodiest day of intra-Palestinian fighting since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June.

Some 250,000 Fatah supporters joined Monday's rally in a major square of Gaza City, carrying pictures of Arafat, yellow Fatah flags and wearing trademark black-and-white Arab headdresses. It was the biggest outpouring of support for Fatah since Hamas' violent takeover of the territory.

The crowd scattered as masked Hamas security men ran through the city streets, firing weapons. Two hours later, hundreds of Hamas gunmen controlled the protest site and were arresting protesters as they tried to flee.

An eyewitness, identifying himself as Abu Samir, said Hamas security men appeared to fire unprovoked. "I saw brutality. I saw gunmen shoot at people. I saw them catch a boy and beat him with a stick," he said.

At least 85 people were wounded, medical officials said. [...]

Abbas has been trying to isolate Hamas as he moves to relaunch peace talks with Israel at the U.S.-hosted Mideast conference.

What's that? Frankly, I doubt he has, no matter how much they antagonise him.

Arafat, Fatah's founder, is still widely loved by Palestinians of all political beliefs and Abbas has been using the third anniversary of his death to rally support on the streets.

Then they still worship evil, plain and simple. No need to feel sorry for them then.

SOME FATAH MEMBERS TURN TO AL QAEDA WHILE OTHERS THREATEN SDEROT

And rocket attacks are also continuing:

Scores of Fatah policemen who used to serve in the Palestinian Authority security forces in the Gaza Strip have now joined the al-Qaida-affiliated group calling itself the Army of Islam, sources in the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry told The Jerusalem Post Thursday.

Meanwhile, Fatah's armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, claimed responsibility for firing 20 rockets from the Gaza Strip recently. The group said the attacks signaled the beginning of a military campaign dubbed "Operation Gaza Autumn," in the course of which it would fire hundreds of rockets at Israeli communities.

Meanwhile, we're also told that the US okayed wide-scale IDF operations in Gaza. Of course, with politicians like these in charge in Israel, it figures that we'd have to get the Dubya administration's green light to conduct these sort of things, wouldn't we?

US GOVERNMENT ONCE AGAIN GIVING MONEY TO FATAH

Your tax dollars at work again (Hat tip: IRIS Blog):

The American government is planning to transfer $410 million to the Palestinian Authority in an effort to strengthen it - the largest aid program ever given to the Palestinians by the U.S.

And then, the money will be shared with Hamas, regardless of animosity between Fatah and Hamas. Perhaps those concerned should contact their Congressman about this waste of vital tax payments.

MAHMOUD ABBAS-CONTROLLED NEWSPAPER INCITES AGAINST AMERICAN TROOPS

Again, Fatah shows how in truth, they're against the war in Iraq, and are just as dangerous to US army soldiers as the al Qaeda terrorists:

(IsraelNN.com) Al-Hayat al-Jadida, the largest Palestinian Authority (PA) daily newspaper controlled by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, featured a cartoon this week that illustrated a prayer for the killing of Americans. A Muslim is shown kneeling in prayer facing a U.S. B-2 stealth bomber, silhouetted in the sky.

The words of the cartoon character's prayer adorn four missiles aimed at the American plane. These are his wishes:

"Allah, scatter them!!"

“And turn their wives into widows!!"

“And turn their children into orphans!!"

“And give us victory over them!!"

According to Palestinian Media Watch, which reported the story, this plea for the death and bereavement of Americans is a special prayer for Laylat Al-Qadr (the 27th day of Ramadan), as is noted in the corner of the cartoon.

Publications in the PA and by Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction have a history of promoting support for those who fight and kill Americans. The most recently published 12th grade PA schoolbooks, for example, use the phrase "brave resistance" to describe terror attacks against American and British soldiers in Iraq. [PMW Study of the New 12th grade PA schoolbooks, page 24]

On Laylat al-Qadr, literally the Night of Decree, Muslims recite a large number of prayers. The Shi'a Muslims in particular stay awake all night, pray, and make wishes.

As the PA calls for the death of Americans, the American government is making preparations for a summit meeting it will host next month between Israel's leadership and the PA's Mahmoud Abbas, whom it regards as a moderate.

Incitement like what that newspaper does also encourages more hostility towards American troops in Iraq from local terrorists. And the Dubya administration is still willing to live in denial about this?

HAMAS HAS ACCESS TO US ARMS

Provided to them by the one and only Fatah, and check out the line at the end of this article (H/T: IRIS Blog):

Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip are using heavy weaponry provided to the Palestinians by the Bush Administration to combat Israeli counter-terrorism operations.

Israeli military sources confirmed to Middle East Newsline that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Apache helicopter gun ships operating against Hamas rocket crews in Gaza have come under fire from US-made heavy machine guns.

The weapons were originally given to Fatah-dominated security forces loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas drove Abbas' forces from Gaza last June and took possession of a vast arsenal of weapons and equipment that had either been donated by the US and Western nations or bought with foreign financial aid.

In repeated assurances to Congress over the past two years, the Bush Administration insisted its security aid to Abbas was of a non-lethal nature.

Now they cannot make any excuses, and have a lot of explaining to do. As for Hamas/Fatah, an important lesson in how politics and terrorists make strange bedfellows indeed.

FATAH GOONS BEAT UP STUDENTS AND JOURNALISTS

Fatah continues to dole out physical violence:

At least 22 students and journalists were injured, some moderately, when Fatah-controlled security forces raided Hebron University in the West Bank on Sunday to break up a press conference by the Hamas-affiliated student council.

The press conference was called to protest against the university's decision to suspend loans to students.

This is the second time in less than two months that the security forces have raided a West Bank university. One student, Muhammad Raddad, was killed and dozens injured in the first raid on An-Najah University in Nablus.

The incident in Hebron, a traditional Hamas stronghold, is another indication of growing tensions between Fatah and Hamas.

How much time will it be before a civil war breaks out around Hebron between these two wicked entities?

GIVING LAND TO FATAH IS GIVING LAND TO HAMAS

Happy Labor Day:

At a summit Tuesday, Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert talked for the first time about the core issues that have scuttled decades of peace efforts - Palestinian refugees, final borders and the fate of Jerusalem. It was the first time Olmert and Abbas addressed the issues in depth and it represented an important building block for the November's peace conference. Before the meeting with Olmert, Abbas had warned the November conference would be a waste of time if the big three issues were glossed over. Bush proposed the conference this fall after bloody infighting split the Palestinian leadership into two rival governments. His administration sees the bitter internal split as an opportunity to push for a political settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Is there a single serious scholar or diplomat who thinks that a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians can be achieved without a reunification of the West Bank and Gaza? Certainly not Syria. Because if a three state solution isn't viable, then any Israeli concessions to Fatah will eventually be followed up by reunification between Fatah and Hamas. Which will happen on Hamas's terms, since Hamas is vastly more powerful. Which means that Israeli concessions to Fatah are de facto concessions to the genocidal terrorists in Hamas. And everybody knows it.

[Read an extended version of this post at Mere Rhetoric]

HEY, WHERE'S ALL THAT HAMAS LAW AND ORDER WE WERE PROMISED?

We've been hearing a lot of "at least Hamas has brought law and order to the streets of Gaza." Yeah? Let's see how that's going:

Hamas security men scuffled with rowdy Fatah supporters, fired in the air and briefly detained journalists at a protest against the Islamic group's rule in the Strip.... The protesters converged on a former Fatah compound in Gaza City now occupied by Hamas, chanting pro-Fatah slogans, throwing stones and empty bottles and waving yellow Fatah flags. It was the second time in recent weeks that Hamas men have clashed violently with Fatah protesters - and could signal possible cracks in Hamas's two-month-old ironclad rule of Gaza... When several Hamas security men roughed up a Reuters TV cameraman filming the protest and tried to confiscate his camera, protesters surrounded the Hamas men, beat them to the ground and prevented the cameraman's arrest. The demonstrators cursed the Hamas men, calling them "Shiites" - a derogatory allusion to Hamas' alliance with the hardline Shiite Muslim regime in Iran.

Notice that even the relatively uneducated Gaza residents - with their relative lack of Western media - know enough to think that the center-left "Shiites and Sunnis don't cooperate" meme is idiotic. So there are two ways to take this post. One is to play up the education angle, and punchline with something like "apparently even the most hysterical criticisms of the American educational system are true: a total lack of schooling really does leave you smarter than any amount of what passes as advantaged education." The other way is to go with the Western media angle, and make is something like "we're not saying that the absence of CNN and the NYT makes Gaza residents not totally misguided about the reality of the Middle East. That would be a post hoc fallacy, and we've got exams on argumentation theory coming up later this afternoon. But there does appear to be, as the social scientists say, something of a correlation". But it's shaping up to be an incredibly long week, and it's way too early in the morning to be making tough decisions. So on this one, you get to choose your own adventure.

[Cross-posted to Mere Rhetoric]

SECRET BUT UNSURPRISING TALKS BETWEEN FATAH/HAMAS

This proves once again that anyone who thinks that Fatah is any better than Hamas is wrong:

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's plans to bolster Fatah may experience a grave setback in light of Hamas and Fatah's renewal of secret talks aimed at repairing relations. Olmert has been attempting to bolster Fatah's position and isolate Hamas, a militant group whose primary goal is to destroy Israel.

"The talks are being held at a low-level," a Fatah official told the Jerusalem Post. "It's premature to talk about a breakthrough, but at least we are talking again."

Olmert said on Tuesday that he does not have information about the talks, according to sources in the prime minister's office. However during his meeting with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, Olmert said that the renewal of Fatah-Hamas talks could have harsh "diplomatic ramifications," underscoring his opposition to a united Palestinian government. Abbas vowed not to renew contact with the militant group.

A Hamas-Fatah reuinification could undermine all diplomatic progress achieved so far between Olmert and Abbas.

But it's really because Abbas doesn't want any "progress", that's all. He says the Hamas takeover of the Gaza strip is "destructive", but that does not prove that he's against their existence at all.