It was a bloody weekend of confrontation between Hamas and Fatah, in which 11 people were killed and more than 90 -- including 12 children -- were wounded in the Shujaiyyah neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, bringing back the scenes of horror thousands of Gazans are already used to experience. Except this time the blood couldn't be blamed on Israelis. Full Story »
Posted by Kaizar Campwala
The smoke hasn't yet cleared, so this assessment is provisional, and the author notes that a number of experts think too much has been made of the Palestinian infighting in Gaza. I am one of those observers of the scene who believe Israel and the US are mistaken in their effort to strangle Hamas by the blockade of the Gaza Strip. Given the conditions that obtain in Gaza, the level of violence is low. In my view, Israel must accept the fact that stable rule in an independent Palestine would need the participation of Hamas. This is the view of the exceedingy well-informed emir and foreign minister of Qatar.
