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As a longstanding observer of the Middle East conflict, it is only natural that I have become a total and utter masochist. Every time the television blares on about militants and peace plans little shivers of pleasure tingle through my spine. That's why I couldn't help but outright smile and almost laugh maniacally at this:
"Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday declared Hamas' paramilitary militia in the Gaza Strip illegal, raising the stakes in his standoff with the Islamic movement.
Abbas made the announcement two days after members of the Hamas force attacked the home of a senior security commander in Gaza, killing the man and seven of his bodyguards. The man was a member of the Preventive Security force, which is loyal to Abbas' Fatah party.
"In light of continued security chaos and assassinations that got to a number of our fighters ... and in light of the failure of existing agencies and security apparatuses in imposing law and order and protecting the security of the citizens, President Mahmoud Abbas decided to reshuffle the security forces and its leadership and to consider the (Hamas) executive force, officers and members, illegal and outside the law," Abbas' office said in a statement.
# US to give $86 million to Abbas's forces
Khaled Abu Hilal, spokesman for the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry, quickly responded to Abbas' statement, calling it a hasty decision which was "a green light to those who seek to shed the blood of the Executive Force members." Abu Hilal also announced plans to double the force to a size of 12,000 members.
Fatah and Hamas have been locked in a power struggle since the Islamic group defeated Fatah in parliamentary elections a year ago. The dispute has centered around control of the powerful Palestinian security forces.
With Abbas, who was elected in a separate presidential vote, claiming authority over most of the security forces, Hamas last year formed its own unit, known as the "Executive Force."
Members of the black-clad Hamas militia are visible throughout Gaza, and have periodically clashed with the existing pro-Fatah security forces.
More than two dozen people have been killed in the latest wave of factional violence, which erupted early last month. Thursday's attack on the Fatah commander's home in northern Gaza was the bloodiest single battle in the standoff to date.
Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh held an urgent meeting Friday on the escalating violence, and while the two sides agreed to pull back their forces, the meeting failed to cool raging tensions in the coastal strip.
"We are going to end all armed displays in the streets," Haniyeh said after the meeting. Abbas had no comment at the time.
The body of Gen. Muhammed Gharib, chief of the Fatah-dominated Preventive Security Service in northern Gaza, riddled with bullets and mutilated by stab wounds, was found in his home in northern Gaza Thursday after Hamas gunmen attacked with gunfire and RPGs. Seven of Ghraib's bodyguards and a Hamas gunman were also killed in the day-long battle.
Senior Washington officials announced on Friday that the US plans to transfer $86.4 million to the security forces of embattled Abbas, shortly before a local religious leader known for his anti-Hamas views was killed in a drive-by shooting outside a mosque Friday, shortly after delivering a sermon that criticized the Palestinian leadership."
Isn't that great? Abbas' gang--sorry, his presidential guard--is getting beat up. So the US is going to hand him money for guns and, of course, to keep the loyalty of his thugs. And in the meantime Abbas has declared a Hamas gang--sorry, their Executive Force--to be illegal. People are killing each other in the streets, gangs are kidnapping people, but it's always good to know that the US has a firm guiding hand to lead us out of this anarchy and strife.
"Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday declared Hamas' paramilitary militia in the Gaza Strip illegal, raising the stakes in his standoff with the Islamic movement.
Abbas made the announcement two days after members of the Hamas force attacked the home of a senior security commander in Gaza, killing the man and seven of his bodyguards. The man was a member of the Preventive Security force, which is loyal to Abbas' Fatah party.
"In light of continued security chaos and assassinations that got to a number of our fighters ... and in light of the failure of existing agencies and security apparatuses in imposing law and order and protecting the security of the citizens, President Mahmoud Abbas decided to reshuffle the security forces and its leadership and to consider the (Hamas) executive force, officers and members, illegal and outside the law," Abbas' office said in a statement.
# US to give $86 million to Abbas's forces
Khaled Abu Hilal, spokesman for the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry, quickly responded to Abbas' statement, calling it a hasty decision which was "a green light to those who seek to shed the blood of the Executive Force members." Abu Hilal also announced plans to double the force to a size of 12,000 members.
Fatah and Hamas have been locked in a power struggle since the Islamic group defeated Fatah in parliamentary elections a year ago. The dispute has centered around control of the powerful Palestinian security forces.
With Abbas, who was elected in a separate presidential vote, claiming authority over most of the security forces, Hamas last year formed its own unit, known as the "Executive Force."
Members of the black-clad Hamas militia are visible throughout Gaza, and have periodically clashed with the existing pro-Fatah security forces.
More than two dozen people have been killed in the latest wave of factional violence, which erupted early last month. Thursday's attack on the Fatah commander's home in northern Gaza was the bloodiest single battle in the standoff to date.
Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh held an urgent meeting Friday on the escalating violence, and while the two sides agreed to pull back their forces, the meeting failed to cool raging tensions in the coastal strip.
"We are going to end all armed displays in the streets," Haniyeh said after the meeting. Abbas had no comment at the time.
The body of Gen. Muhammed Gharib, chief of the Fatah-dominated Preventive Security Service in northern Gaza, riddled with bullets and mutilated by stab wounds, was found in his home in northern Gaza Thursday after Hamas gunmen attacked with gunfire and RPGs. Seven of Ghraib's bodyguards and a Hamas gunman were also killed in the day-long battle.
Senior Washington officials announced on Friday that the US plans to transfer $86.4 million to the security forces of embattled Abbas, shortly before a local religious leader known for his anti-Hamas views was killed in a drive-by shooting outside a mosque Friday, shortly after delivering a sermon that criticized the Palestinian leadership."
Isn't that great? Abbas' gang--sorry, his presidential guard--is getting beat up. So the US is going to hand him money for guns and, of course, to keep the loyalty of his thugs. And in the meantime Abbas has declared a Hamas gang--sorry, their Executive Force--to be illegal. People are killing each other in the streets, gangs are kidnapping people, but it's always good to know that the US has a firm guiding hand to lead us out of this anarchy and strife.