Hamas vows to avenge killing of top commander in Gaza City
Fatah denies involvement in shooting; PA sources: Palestinian unity talks snag on key security post.
By News AgenciesHamas on Tuesday vowed to avenge the death of a top leader in its armed wing, who was killed earlier in the day in Gaza in renewed violence that erupted as efforts to form a Palestinian unity government bogged down in disagreement.
Hamas blamed Fatah forces for the killing of Ala al-Haddad, Gaza City commander of Hamas's armed wing, but a Fatah official denied any responsibility, calling it the result of a clan feud.
"The blood of Haddad will not be shed in vain," Hamas spokesman Abu Obediah said. "We will punish the killers and we will not allow anyone to hide behind the cloak of any security agency."
Al-Hadad, 35, was killed and two members of the group's police force were wounded on Tuesday in separate shootings in Gaza City, a Hamas source and hospital officials said.
An official in Fatah's Preventive Security force in Gaza confirmed that one of its people was wounded in a shooting incident, but said the matter was a family feud and that the officer was not on duty.
The gunbattle erupted after members of a Gaza City family tried to recover a stolen car, and its passengers - members of a Hamas militia - opened fire, the force said.
"The Preventive Security Services and its men were not involved at all in the tragic incident in Gaza," the official said.
The shootings came hours before Abbas was scheduled to resume talks with Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Unity talks snag over key security postNegotiations over a Palestinian unity government have become bogged down over who will serve as interior minister with control over security services, sources close to the talks said on Tuesday.
Last week both sides said they were on the verge of announcing an agreement.
But a source close to the talks said ahead of Tuesday's meeting that the interior ministry dispute had become a "real obstacle" to a final deal.
Under the agreement reached in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, last month, Hamas will choose who serves as interior minister but Abbas has a veto.
So far, Abbas has rejected several of Hamas's candidates for the post and Hamas has balked at 12 names proposed by Abbas.
Haniyeh is expected to give Abbas a new list of names on Tuesday, but it is unclear whether he will accept any of them, officials said.
"Interior minister is still a problem," Tayyeb Abdel-Rahim, an aide to Abbas, told reporters in Ramallah.
If Abbas rejects the new Hamas candidates, it will take Hamas time to draw up another list, a Hamas source said.
"It will be up to the president. Hamas wants to end this task as soon as possible," the source told Reuters.
The other key cabinet positions, including finance and foreign ministers, have been settled.
Israel has vowed to boycott the Palestinian unity government, including non-Hamas ministers, unless it recognises Israel, renounces violence and accepts interim peace deals as demanded by the Quartet of Middle East mediators.
The unity government agreement contains a vague promise to "respect" previous Israeli-Palestinian pacts. But it does not commit the incoming government to abide by those pacts, nor to recognize Israel and renounce violence as demanded by Quartet partners the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.
Haniyeh said after Friday prayers the unity government could be unveiled as early as Monday or Tuesday. Abbas said on Thursday the unity government was "99 percent" agreed.
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PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (right) attending the funeral of Palestinian Authority official Youssef Issa in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday. (AP) |
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Of course, Michael.
Of course, Michael.
you are one more maniac! You can not be shooting the other, but your true enemies, and mine!
HAMAS and Fatah have to learn more about when to stop killing each other. I have less and less patience to these maniacs.
It seems (from another source) that Hamas is growing an internal revolt. Some ministers (interior, foreign affairs) are mounting the regvolt as they are likely to lose their positions and therefore all the financial corruption that goes with them.
De toute evidence, apparement!
Don't you recognize tongue in cheek humor?
Where is Click-fool to blame the Mossad
Generations bred on hate, violence, and vengence make better killers than diplomates War will rage in Gaza untill one clan, faction, or gang, leader is standing on top of the body pile. No settlement is likely and the only unity will be the unity of one warlord, dictator or sheik. Gaza travel advisory: The tunnels go both ways, walk in the opposite direction that the explosives are going.
I saw your show last week on the discovery network. Say hi to Mags and the kids
This is not what a broadcast shown on french TV (pro-palestinian)showed a few weeks ago. Palestinian christians are having their properties (including land) stolen by the PA and their muslim neighbors, if they complain they are jaiels if not killed. It is not surprising that In Bethleem who used to have 70% of its population christian, now has only 20-30% christians. I also have a direct testimony from an ex-colleague of mine that went back full of hope when Oslo happened and came back disgusted.
Salut à tous ! Y a t il vraiment quelqu'un pour lire toutes ces conneries ?
I don't believe you are a real person, but someone trying to get a reaction. Get real man the Christians and Jews are infidels and you are as crazy as a loony bird.
here they are at it again, posturing around with little guns playing the mine is bigger than yours game. While they play bravados it will be enough for a trigger happy 18 year old israeli soldier to push a button and blow them all out of existence (oops, israelis call it a technical, mechanical error).
Its saved the IDF a job in the upcoming war, lets hope Fatah knock a few more Hamas "commanders" off.
It is as simple as can be. If you do not understand this you would have to be an IDIOT or a violent, evil person, groups like Hamas go into Dicos and pizzerias, schools inorder to kill children. Thats it. real simple. Nothying to do with any cause or liberation B.S. THer sole purpose is to |KILL as many innocent people as possible.
the palestinian olympics, KILLING. doing what they do best. how can the CIVILiZED world expect Israel to |NEGOTIATE with these people?
no amount of ignorance on yr part changes the fact that you are an infidel. the muslims will also come for you and you will then run to the Zionist Jews for protection.
always dug your music and especially "s" PAIN. MAY OUR ENEMIES SUFFER A THOUSAND MISERIES as long as they spit on us and hate us.
as he who refuses to accept reality and deeds that have already been done. Here's how your "brothers" pursue equal rights for Christians & Jews................. History of Palestinian Assaults on Holy Sites Abraham's Oak Russian "Holy Trinity" Monastery Located in the Palestinian-controlled part of Hebron, the monastery belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. On July 5, 1997, Palestinian policemen arrived at the monastery, physically removed the monks and nuns, and took over the site. Several of the monks and nuns required hospitalization. Rachel's Tomb The Tomb, located on the outskirts of Bethlehem, is the burial site of the Biblical matriarch Rachel and is under Israeli control. During the September 1996 riots, Palestinian mobs assaulted the site and hurled rocks and firebombs at it, causing damage to the outer part of the structure. Palestinian policemen on the scene shot and wounded Israeli soldiers guarding the Tomb. Today, Rachel's Tomb is again a major target for Palestinian attacks. Joseph's Tomb During the September 1996 riots, a Palestinian mob led by Palestinian policemen assaulted the Tomb. Palestinian security agents opened fire on Israeli troops at the site, killing 6 Israeli soldiers. After the Israeli forces temporarily withdrew, the Palestinian mob entered the site and set fire to it. They burned the Jewish prayer books, Bibles and religious articles inside the structure and caused extensive damage. In October 2000, Palestinian mobs once again attacked, killed one Israeli soldier, and destroyed the building. Palestinian forces again took part. Church of St. Nicholas, Beit Jalla During the October and November 2000 hostilities, Fatah gunmen -- members of the "Tansim" fired on the Jewish neighborhood of Gilo from areas adjacent to churches in Beit Jalla. "The positions chosen by the Tansim are near to churches in Beit Jalla, most notably the Church of St. Nicholas, hoping that Israel's return fire will hit a church," reported a Christian cleric. "Then it will be front-page news for the 'Christian West,' that Israel is now destroying churches." Jericho Monastery In January 2000, Palestinian police evicted five "White Russian" monks from their 19th-century monastery in the West Bank town of Jericho, handing the property over to the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Church of the Nativity In May 2002, 13 Palestinian terrorists forcibly took over of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. They stole gold objects from the monks, ate their scarce food, and urinated on the church floor. Tanzim commander Abdullah Abu-Hadid told Yediot Achronot that the seizure of the church was premeditated. He said: "The idea was to enter the church in order to create international pressure on Israel... We knew beforehand that there was two years worth of food for 50 monks. Oil, beans, rice, olives. Good bathrooms and the largest wells in old Bethlehem." Destroyed Christian Sites in Lebanon During the seven-year Lebanese civil war (1975-1982) Christian communities in Lebanon were targets for the reign of terror of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Palestinian Authority's predecessor. Christian villagers were massacred, churches destroyed, and cemeteries desecrated. The town of Damour, 10 miles south of Beirut, was particularly hard hit. Hundreds of Damour residents were reportedly massacred. The massacre of 586 Damour Christians by the PLO on January 23, 1976 was described by an eyewitness, Maronite Father Mansour Labaky: "The attack took place from the mountain behind. It was an apocalypse. They were coming, thousands and thousands, shouting 'Allahu Akbar! God is great! Let us attack them for the Arabs, let us offer a holocaust to Mohammed! And they were slaughtering everyone in their path, men, women and children."
You've conveniently forgotten that Muslim Arabs forced Christian Arabs to flee Bethlehem for other parts. If you wish, I'll be glad to furnish a listing and details of the numerous locations the your brothers defiled and chased you from. Just ask, it's gratis, free of charge. At the present time your brothers (LOL) are tolerating you becuase it's in their interests. Push comes to shove, you'll be sent packing, lucky to escape with your lives, to join your compatriots that had the wisdom to leave while the getting was still good.
and other western news media. The Christian population in the ME is dispersing to survive. As for the former Mrs. Arafat she and her husband stole billions from the Palistinian people: may they both rot in hell
Most of the Christian pro-terrorists you name are living or are dead in other countries where you may find yourself one day. No Muslim persecution of Christians? Please. Why have the Christian population of Bethlehem dropped from majority to minority while the Muslim one increased? Land grabbing and female grabbing are two of the Muslims favorite activities these days with their Christian 'brothers'. Christians are leaving palestinian controlled areas in droves- not Muslims but Christians. So unless you can prove that Israel is singling out Christians for special retribution you have people numbers saying you are wrong. Oh, and the only country with a growing Christian population in the Middle East is Israel ..and lately Syria as Christians are fleeing Muslim persecution in Iraq as well. Have a good day and hope you don't have any attractive young daughters.
Don't be daft man. There is tons of violence between moslems and christians. Just look at what the moslems are doing to christians in bethlehem. Islam is violent from its inception, look at history man and stop fooling yourself
May neither Fatah nor Hamas remain standing in their perpetual feud. The palestinians are in need of moderate leadership in order to make some serious reforms if they wish to obtain self autinomy
See my #3 post, as much as I hate to say it, but "I told you so". The blood fued will continue because Mr. Abbas lacks the "khutsbah" to stand up to the Israelis and the Americans and would rather see a civil war than to see himself and his cronies isolated ala Hamas.
we are. in the best you will get fifth rate colony with very limited soveregnity and we already have first world and very dinamic country. you were born fools, idiots, cretins and losers. you cannot compete with us and by very far.
"Both Christians and Muslims will be against Zionists - that is for sure!" Well that's reassuring for Israel's security..
busy times ahead.
fighting each other to last pal, it is much better.
explain who you think abumazens masters are please ?
Clearly you don't know much about Palestinian politics...I am a CHRISTIAN PALESTINIAN who happen to be PRO-HAMAS...Palestinian Christians are like Muslims totally involved in Palestinian politics...there never was and never will be violence between Christians and Muslims...And remember that most of the prominent Palestinian leaders are Christians!!! Including founder of PFLP (George Habash), Hanan Ashrawi,Neaf Hawatma (Leader of DFLP), even the late Presidents wife is Christian! Both Christians and Muslims will be against Zionists - that is for sure!
When the teachers talk, the pupils listen. Mr. Abbas is going to back out of the national unity government deal because his masters told him to do so. National unit government will never materialize.
Did you really expect a unity government. ????????
Hamas and Fatah could divide the spoils. Fatah would be dominant in thuggery, robbery, rape etc. in the West Bank and Hamas could be in charge of policing restaurants, internet cafes, schools, etc. in Gaza so as to make them Islamic compliant. Both would respect each other in regards to attacks on Christians anywhere they are found. Missile firing into Israel would be primarily Hamas controlled but Fatah could conduct sporadic small arms fire against the Zionists when they have the urge. Kidnapping would be a joint operation with Hamas oversight. Iranian guns and money would go to Hamas while US/Israel arms would go to Fatah. There would be no raids by either on the other's stockpiles. Hamas' 'Death to Zionist Entity' slogan and Fatah's 'All Guns Turned On The Occupier' would be basis for all future understandings. Both would respect all tunnels regardless who built them. You just have to sit down and negotiate in a quiet and constructive manner to achieve any agreement.