Clashes in the PA

The appointment of Jamal abu Samahadaneh by Hamas Interior Minister Said
Siam to head a new security force has sparked a crisis in the PA and has also
hardened negative reactions to the Hamas Government by Israel, the US and
others. This is because Samahadaneh is leader of the Popular Resistance
Committees, and as such is a leading terrorist. The PRCs are a coordinating
organization that facilitates the actions of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the al
Aksa Martyrs Brigades on a local level to ensure cooperation between all
terrorist groups. Samahadaneh is on Israel's most wanted terrorist list. His
appointment has created a crisis in the PA.
Israel stated that his appointment will not protect him from ongoing attempts
to arrest or kill him. Then, Pres. Abbas of the PA wrote a letter to PM
Haniyeh refusing to confirm his appointment. This is because the
establishment of a new security service is obviously intended to try to
outflank the control by Abbas over the existing security services. Then
Khalid Mashaal the foreign leader of Hamas, made a speech in Syria in
which he accused Abbas of conspiring with Israel and the US to prevent
Hamas from exercising its legitimate authority in the PA.
This caused riots over the past two days in which Fatah forces attacked
Hamas in various locations around the PA. Gunfights occurred and ca.
200 people were injured. Whether or not this crisis can be averted
or will spin out of control into a civil war is uncertain. At the moment both
sides are holding their positions. A mass rally and march of Fatah forces in
Ramallah was called off at the last minute with Egyptian mediation.
Meanwhile, the US has stated that such an appointment shows that Hamas has
no interest in cooperating with the international community and has frozen all
payments to the PA. Yesterday a Hamas official stated that they are unable
even to obtain money (m$50) sent by the Arab League, since the Banks cannot
process such transfers because of US opposition. This leaves the PA in a
state of virtual bankruptcy, although this is largely because of the
corruption and misuse of previous funding.
Today Pres. Ahmedinejad of Iran sent a message to Hamas PM Haniyeh
expressing his support for the Palestinian people. So now the clash between
Abbas and Haniyeh in the PA has expanded into an international situation, with
the US, EU and Israel on one side and Iran and Syria on the other. Abbas has
called the terrorist bombing in Tel Aviv last week that killed 9 Israelis a
"heinous terrorist attack" (note that most Western media still call it a
"militant" attack) and this has resulted in a strong protest by Islamic Jihad
justifying its actions.
Israeli forces did not react to the terrorist incident in Tel Aviv, on the
advice of Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni. Perhaps she is right, since any
such major counter-action might have caused the Palestinian factions to
unite against Israel, but under the current situation they are barely able to
prevent direct clashes of their forces and the situation is one of open
hostility between Fatah and Hamas. The appointment of Samahadaneh
is merely an excuse in the power play that is ongoing between them.
Meanwhile, on the Israeli side, PM Olmert continues to negotiate the
establishment of his coalition with Labor, that now has 7 Ministries,
including Amir Peretz as the new Defense Minister!