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Last update - 08:41 29/09/2008
Discontented Fatah politicos consider launching third intifada
By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Hamas, Fatah, Israel News 

In recent weeks, senior defense officials have been singing the praises of their Palestinian colleagues. After years of suspicion about the Palestinian Authority, Israeli officials are now convinced that the PA is resolved to deal with Hamas, which is threatening to take over the West Bank as it did the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian officials admit to receiving assistance from Israel and the United States and have arrested hundreds of Hamas activists and closed down dozens of its charity organizations.

But the picture is more complicated than that. While Fatah's security professionals seek conflict with Hamas, the movement's political faction wishes to reconcile with Hamas and redirect the anger at Israel.
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Eight years after the second intifada's eruption, the controversy in the PA could lead to a renewed conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank. The recent incidents between extremist settlers and Palestinians could contribute to the conflagration.

Many Palestinians describe June 14, 2007 - the day Hamas forcibly ousted the last Fatah forces from the Gaza Strip - as the day the second intifada died. The Hamas takeover of Gaza jump-started several processes, mainly the dismantling of Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the West Bank, once the backbone of the violent struggle against Israel.

Meanwhile, Hamas has agreed to a temporary cease-fire with Israel and stopped the rocket fire from Gaza. But Fatah activists say that they see the lack of progress in the peace talks, coupled with continued construction in the settlements and increased settler violence, as a recipe for renewed conflagration. This is exacerbated by their growing dissatisfaction with the PA's functioning and its helplessness in the face of Israel's infringements on Palestinian interests, whereas Hamas maintains complete control of Gaza.

Last week, Kadoura Fares, a leader of the Palestinian "peace coalition," called on PA President Mahmoud Abbas to halt the talks with Israel immediately. Fares, a key Fatah leader from the generation below Abbas, made this statement at a conference on the Geneva Initiative in Tel Aviv. He said it was inconceivable for Abbas to keep talking with Israel while construction in the settlements continued.

Fares' statement reflects the dissatisfaction felt by many Fatah members of his generation in the West Bank, such as Hussam Khader of the Balata refugee camp, a key figure in both intifadas. Younger Fatah members - people once active in the Al-Aqsa Brigades, who are in Palestinian custody because they have not yet received amnesty from Israel - also warn of an approaching confrontation with Israel.

Israeli intelligence officials do not believe the West Bank is ripe for a third intifada, because the Palestinian public is still weary of the suffering caused by the last round. It is doubtful that Fatah could sweep the masses into another violent struggle against Israel, they say.

But the continued friction with the settlers - and certainly a Jewish terror attack against Arabs in the West Bank - could provide the spark, just as opposition leader Ariel Sharon's visit to Temple Mount did eight years ago. That could be pretext enough for Fatah militants, who have been hiding their weapons under their mattresses, to aim them at Israelis once again.


Related articles:
  • Livni to Qureia: Israel will respond with force to Palestinian terror
  • Hamas and Fatah step up Gaza power struggle amid renewed violence
  • Hamas warns of uprising against Fatah in West Bank
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      1.   Angels! 02:20  |  Rigma 29/09/08
      2.   inti 02:46  |  consiglieri 29/09/08
      3.   Meanwhile . . . 03:05  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/09/08
      4.   Israeli settlers, most immoral terrorists, go home to Europe 03:13  |  anti-racist 29/09/08
      5.   i said it`s coming and i stick by it 03:19  |  VIPER 29/09/08
      6.   let them launch a 3rd, 4th and 5th intifada 03:50  |  Richard S 29/09/08
      7.   INTAFADS HAVE FAILED MISERABLY BEFORE, SO WHAT? 03:57  |  jewish doctor 29/09/08
      8.   Lets All Not Forget Barak Gave the Pals Weapons. 03:59  |  Shepherd 29/09/08
      9.   Viper, jokes aside... 04:11  |  Ben 29/09/08
      10.   to anti-racist #4 06:22  |  Harriet 29/09/08
      11.   Our total faith in our legitimate rights on the Land of ... 08:06  |  Jean Van Daem 29/09/08
      12.   What third intafada the 2nd hasn`t finished 08:08  |  Adrian de Klerk 29/09/08
      13.   Diplomacy, then violence. 08:12  |  Jean Van Daem 29/09/08
      14.   Abbas`s Uncle Toms 10:16  |  Clickfool 29/09/08
      15.   I see it 10:34  |  Hastaroth 29/09/08
      16.   They Better Not Even Consider It 10:34  |  Yosemite 29/09/08
      17.   #5 VIPER of course you`ll stick by it 10:35  |  * BEN JABO 29/09/08
      18.   The legacy of Arafat the Egyptian lives on.walk away 10:36  |  PETER SM 29/09/08
      19.   Calls for a new Intifada NOT justified at this point of time..... 10:58  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/09/08
      20.   Clickfool`s `Tom` 11:01  |  The Judge 29/09/08
      21.   Clickfool - An easy question for you 11:22  |  * BEN JABO 29/09/08
      22.   Let`s hope Israel uses it`s resources PROPERLY for a change 11:37  |  Harvey 29/09/08
      23.   Still spreading the lie that Sharon`s visit started the Intifada 11:47  |  I 29/09/08
      24.   Next round the IDF will allow the settlers a free hand 12:14  |  Allon 29/09/08
      25.   Viper: What about the day after? 12:15  |  David G 29/09/08
      26.   # 16 to yosemite re: what you fail to consider 12:49  |  eric 29/09/08
      27.   clickfool accuses abbas of being an uncle tom 12:50  |  brighton rock 29/09/08
      28.   swiss dino i recommend swiss muslims start an intifada 12:53  |  swisswatch 29/09/08
      29.   To Ben Jabo and his Post 17 13:20  |  Whiskey Rivers 29/09/08
      30.   When did the 2nd one end??? 13:57  |  Free Gilad Shalit 29/09/08
      31.   bad idea 14:10  |  rm 29/09/08
      32.   Palestinian aspiriations always include VIOLENCE 14:16  |  Avi 29/09/08
      33.   The collaborators have gone so far they will now have to fear for 14:26  |  lakshmi 29/09/08
      34.   To Clickfool, be glad he`s an uncle Tom 14:26  |  Avi 29/09/08
      35.   19Dino, anointed spokesman for "International Community"? 15:00  |  I 29/09/08
      36.   Lakshmi started a new, softer style of propaganda 15:11  |  I 29/09/08
      37.   A litany of Palestineian resistance (part 1) 15:14  |  Yonatan 29/09/08
      38.   A litany of Palestinian resistance (part 2) 15:23  |  Yonatan 29/09/08
      39.   For Jean van Daem # 11 15:24  |  Clickfool 29/09/08
      40.   Ben Jabo complains about another Zionist`s post # 21 15:31  |  Clickfool 29/09/08
      41.   For Brighton Rock # 27 15:35  |  Clickfool 29/09/08
      42.   It will not win them any favours in the world 15:50  |  John 29/09/08
      43.   Please wait till Bibi takes power because 16:06  |  Heshbon 29/09/08
      44.   There is an error in the Arabic 16:19  |  Miche Norman 29/09/08
      45.   palestinians start third intefada at their own risk 16:29  |  zionist forever 29/09/08
      46.   God forbid, that`s the worst scenario - we all have to strive to 17:00  |  ivo 29/09/08
      47.   Violence will be met with more violence 17:20  |  B (The other one) 29/09/08
      48.   Eric 17:24  |  Yosemite 29/09/08
      49.   #29 Whiskey Rivers 17:33  |  * BEN JABO 29/09/08
      50.   There wont be a third infitada 17:54  |  Dave Duncan 29/09/08
      51.   Pals: "We`ll shoot ourselves in the foot a 3rd time!" 17:59  |  Joe Sittizen 29/09/08
      52.   Hurry Up Israel 18:14  |  Danite 29/09/08
      53.   #29 Whiskey Rivers - We`ve been through this B 4 18:40  |  * BEN JABO 29/09/08
      54.   Clickfool # 14 20:45  |  sabra 29/09/08
      55.   Another myth exposed 21:02  |  Scharker Yid 29/09/08
      56.   Danite 22:33  |  TonyL 29/09/08
      57.   There Was Never An "Intifada", Just Coordinated Terrorism 22:49  |  Baruch Gold 29/09/08
      58.   Asstrisk Bin Jibberish re: Clickfool 23:03  |  American in NY 29/09/08
      59.   Yosemite #43: good point, Yosemite - 23:15  |  ivo 29/09/08
      60.   Dino #19: strange scenarios, Dino - 23:42  |  ivo 29/09/08
      61.   ivo do you now understand freedom of speach? 00:17  |  American in NY 30/09/08
      62.   ivo freedom fighters of yesterday and today 00:27  |  American in NY 30/09/08
      63.   # 58 ivo 00:33  |  Swiss (Dino) 30/09/08
      64.   Dino #63: give up on your Likud (scare) complex - 01:31  |  ivo 30/09/08
      65.   Dino#63: a last word - 01:53  |  ivo 30/09/08
      66.   # 65 ivo 02:19  |  Swiss (Dino) 30/09/08
      67.   # 48 to yosemite re: choices 03:03  |  eric 30/09/08
      68.   RE: Avi 03:09  |  Thundercloud65 30/09/08
      69.   #9, BEN, it works both ways 03:46  |  VIPER 30/09/08
      70.   #17, BEN-JABO always the hypocrite 03:48  |  VIPER 30/09/08
      71.   #25, DAVID G, lets see now 03:53  |  VIPER 30/09/08
      72.   #32, AVI, hypocritical and lying 03:59  |  VIPER 30/09/08
      73.   Whiskey Rivers - You may (though I doubt it) 05:44  |  * BEN JABO 30/09/08
      74.   #70 2ND TRY VIPER 06:06  |  * BEN JABO 30/09/08
      75.   next intifada. 07:00  |  Captain God. 30/09/08
      76.   Mark in Lewiston you live with illusion 08:35  |  x-ray 30/09/08
      77.   #75 Captain God and his enigmatic words.... 09:00  |  Hastaroth 30/09/08
      78.   Dear ivo - try asking swiss d this question 09:44  |  CK Tan 30/09/08
      79.   Good heavens! What on earth are you babbling about, Ben Jabo? 10:33  |  Whiskey Rivers 30/09/08
      80.   #74, BEN-JABO 10:33  |  VIPER 30/09/08
      81.   Viewed from Fatah`s vantage 15:00  |  Mark Lincoln 30/09/08
      82.   Sure, Harel, an then... 15:07  |  Ben Kuzar 30/09/08
      83.   Rather Funny. 15:45  |  khairi janbek 30/09/08
      84.   A. in NY #61: a reply covering all your posts in this regard - 1 16:56  |  ivo 30/09/08
      85.   Clickfool #39 18:07  |  Michael T 30/09/08
      86.   Fateh is literally dead 20:49  |  Palestinian 30/09/08
      87.   Why war? 21:08  |  Rigma 30/09/08
      88.   #39 Clickfool 22:03  |  H 30/09/08
      89.   A. in NY #62: your freedom fighters - 1 22:20  |  ivo 30/09/08
      90.   A. in NY #62: your freedom fighters - 2 22:33  |  ivo 30/09/08
      91.   CK Tan Re: Palestinian Concessions 01:13  |  Gray 01/10/08
      92.   3rd Intif..up 01:52  |  Jerusalem Jew 01/10/08
      93.   what third infatada the second hasn`t finished 02:24  |  debra 01/10/08
      94.   Lakshmi-please stop embarassing yourself 05:08  |  DK 01/10/08
      95.   Educate yourself Gray 10:14  |  MaryRose 01/10/08
      96.   "Anything else you can clear up" Gray? 11:29  |  x-ray 01/10/08
      97.   # 86 Gray - I have an answer for you 11:58  |  Adrian de Klerk 01/10/08
      98.   LAKSHMI are you demonstrating for evacuation of Kashmir? 15:27  |  PETER SM 01/10/08
      99.   Peace When Fatah, Hamas, Hizbollah Are Destroyed 17:48  |  Baruch Gold 01/10/08
      100.   ivo #84 Re "Free Speech" 20:27  |  Gray 01/10/08
      101.   Eric 21:21  |  Yosemite 01/10/08
      102.   #80 VIPER - YOU`RE DISTORTING AGAIN 22:58  |  * BEN JABO 01/10/08
      103.   MaryRose: Excellent Cut n` Paste of Ziono-Drivel 23:06  |  Gray 01/10/08
      104.   Gray #101: the Shoa wasn`t the only issue, though it`s important 23:26  |  ivo 01/10/08
      105.   Gray #100: a few more things - 23:46  |  ivo 01/10/08
      106.   Gray 100 and Free Speech 00:17  |  ChanahS 02/10/08
      107.   ivo: & Ahminejad 00:55  |  Gray 02/10/08
      108.   3rd Try: MaryRose: Excellent Cut n` Paste of Ziono-Drivel 01:02  |  Gray 02/10/08
      109.   #79 Whiskey Rivers 03:08  |  * BEN JABO 02/10/08
      110.   Whiskey Rivers 27 years, I`m impressed 03:30  |  * BEN JABO 02/10/08
      111.   Abandon the sick "peace process". We need & want victory. 06:13  |  Chaim 02/10/08
      112.   4th Try Adrian d.K; Dear and Deceptive Diversions from... 06:25  |  Gray 02/10/08
      113.   Chaim #111 Songs Tough Talk from the "Chaim" Gang 06:41  |  Gray 02/10/08
      114.   Wow, Swiss(Dino) Explains When Terrorism is "Justified" 09:08  |  JP 02/10/08
      115.   GRAY.Ethnic cleansing like killing or expelling all the Jews from 09:35  |  PETER SM 02/10/08
      116.   #102, BEN-JABO, come on ben, pleeease 04:05  |  VIPER 03/10/08
      117.   #114, JP and the definition of terrorism, double standards? 08:36  |  VIPER 03/10/08
      118.   #91, Gray must be delusional or I missed something 15:40  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 03/10/08
      119.   #117;VIPER, how can you be so wrong? 15:52  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 03/10/08
      120.   #119, DOC HOLLIDAY, and the U.S 01:33  |  VIPER 06/10/08
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