Last update - 00:00 12/12/2006
Murder of 3 siblings adds to sense that Gaza on verge of civil war
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent
A few hours after the funerals of Osama (10), Ahmed (6) and Salah (3) Balousha, who were shot to death in Gaza, a few dozen children, friends of the three, lit candles and sang songs near the place where the murder took place.
A few hours earlier, smoke covered the skies of Gaza, as tires were burned in protest of the killing. The feeling Monday among many Gazans was that the Strip was on the verge of civil war. Five days ago, a few extremists from a group calling itself "Swords of Islam" attacked a young girl who dared to wear jeans and was without a face covering. Later, 12 shops were destroyed that provided Internet services and rented videos.
"Next they'll start blowing up cars at the command posts or offices of political rivals, the way it goes in Iraq," an officer of the Preventive Security, identified with Fatah," told Haaretz.
Although the officer declined to cast blame for the murder, both Hamas and an extremist group, such as Mumtaz Durmush's Army of Islam, which cooperates with Hamas, are suspected of involvement.
The officer said Hamas is covering up evidence in the investigation into the murder of an intelligence officer, Jad Tayah, who was assassinated a few months ago.
Baha Balousha, the father of the three boys killed Monday, was in charge of the investigation. A few weeks ago, his temporary commander, Tawfiq Tirawi, found out that Hamas had refused to transfer film from security cameras installed near the house of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, which it was believed documented the assassination.
"Haniyeh has made an alliance with the Iranians. He has a new landlord," the officer said. "Not only will he receive a quarter of a billion dollars, he apparently likes their regime, which sees religious leaders as a source of government authority. Every Friday he ascends the pulpit of the mosque and gives the Friday sermon," he said.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Haniyeh seemed less worried about the murder of the children, and more enthusiastic about his visit to Tehran, where his hosts were like parents letting their child buy every toy in the toy store. Before his departure for Sudan, he received unprecedented pledges, but they come with a price tag, similar to that Hezbollah in Lebanon has had to pay. From now on, Iran will be involved in decision-making in the Hamas government. The Hamas regime will be able to survive, even without a unity government. The international boycott will not bother it anymore.
Like any good parent, Tehran knows not to give Haniyeh everything he wants, or he will become spoiled. He flew to Sudan on a regular commercial flight, since Tehran refused to buy him a jet.