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October 18, 2002/Cheshvan 12 5763, Vol. 55, No. 8
Hamas, PA battle
GIL SEDAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM - Some 60 miles southwest of Yasser Arafat's besieged Ramallah headquarters, supporters of the Palestinian Authority president are engaged in another confrontation.
The new front is not against Israel but against their Palestinian brethren - Hamas supporters in the Gaza Strip, who are now openly challenging the Palestinian Authority.
This latest confrontation could lead the Palestinian society to a fitna - the Arabic term for civil war.
The fear has a precedent: In the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939, thousands of Palestinian Arabs were killed in bloody internal strife.
The current unrest in Gaza began with a blood vengeance. Imad Akel, 27, a resident of the Nusseirat refugee camp, and a number of his friends shot dead Palestinian Authority riot police chief Col. Rajah Abu-Lihyeh.
Abu-Lihyeh allegedly was responsible for the shooting of Imad Akel's younger brother Yussuf in violent protests last year against the American war in Afghanistan.
Palestinian Authority police tried to detain Abu-Lihyeh's killers, to no avail. Akel, a senior activist in Hamas' military wing, found shelter among his friends.
Riots broke out as P.A. officers tried to lay their hands on Akel and the other perpetrators. Four people were killed, but so far the Palestinian Authority has failed to bring Akel and his associates to trial.
As commander of the riot police, Abu-Lihyeh was one of the most hated persons in the Palestinian Authority. His people are responsible for the rough handling of any demonstration not to the P.A.'s liking.
It's no wonder, therefore, that Hamas enjoys growing popular support in its confrontation with the authorities.
But if one thing is considered off-limits in Arab regimes, it is a challenge to the security forces.
On Oct. 14, thousands of Palestinians from Fatah marched through Gaza, warning Hamas not to undermine the Palestinian Authority.
Despite the growing popularity of Hamas' uncompromising outlook, the Islamic fundamentalist movement also finds itself at a difficult crossroads. Hamas infrastructure in the West Bank is in ruins. Its top military leader, Mohammad Deif, barely escaped a recent Israeli assassination attempt in the Gaza Strip.
For years, Arafat has ignored his commitments to disarm Hamas and make them subject to P.A. law. Analysts say it's not just because he doesn't want to fragment Palestinian society, but also because it has served his purposes to have militant groups carry out terror attacks supposedly outside of Arafat's control.
But some have warned that Arafat ultimately will have to bring all Palestinian factions to heel if the Palestinian Authority is to stay in power.
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