Hamas Versus Fatah

[Theland]

Now that Hamas and Fatah are showing their true colours and are now killing each other on the streets of Gaza, should Israel trust either one in future talks about peace?

[johnlambert]

no

[suffragette]

This type of rivalry between various factions is typical in many newly formed states or authorities. It happened in Russia after the Revolution and was stoked up by outside influences who thought to benefit by encouraging civil unrest in the new nation. Who would profit best from chaos in the Palestinian authority? Could it be a nation that many thought was on the brink of its own civil war back in 2004?

[LazyGun]

They might be fighting each other in the streets Theland, but if this source of conflict (between arab-israeli) is ever to be resolved, it will have to be via a negotiated solution... so Israel will have to talk to someone representative of the palestinians, and there seems little prospect another party will materialise.

That having been said, Hamas and Fatah are doing themselves and the palestinians no favours whatsoever.As usual, violence bred out of fundamentalism, hatred and frustration has won out over rationality to the detriment of everyone in the region.

[Gromit]

The only way there will be peace in the end is for Israel to have dialogue with the Palastinians be it Hamas, Fatah or whoever. Israel has undermined every attempt to build any authority in Gaza and the present situation of the Palastinians fighting amongst themselves is the result. Which will of course suit Israel - an enemy divided is easily beaten.

[Theland]

The PLO have stated that they have adapted a two stage strategy for dealing with Israel. 1) Establish a state next to Israel and 2) use that state to attack Israel, until all of the land of Israel becomes Palestinian. Can they be trusted? But, they don't even trust each other, so would they in turn trust a negotiated settlement with Israel when they have this (not so) hidden agenda?

[Lonnie]

I agree with Gromit to a certain extent, there will have to be a dialogue, whoever wins, and yes, there is a faction in Israel who don't want peace, but there can .never be peace unless they recognise the State of Israel, and take their destruction off their mandate, and stopp lobbing rockets over the border.

[##Wardy##]

Let them get on with it. Everyone's a winner.

[Theland]

Wardy - Who wins?

[##Wardy##]

The free world. Let them kill eachother and will save the moral West a job.

[kwicky]

Has Blair gone to there to solve the Middle East crisis, the Iraq crisis, the Israeli/Palestine crisis, the Hamas/Fatah, or as many suspect to get away the crisis at home?

[whiffey]

My God, I agree with Wardy. These are warring Arab Islamic factions. Israel should stand clear, protect itself, and let them get on with it. Israel is a bastion in that area of what the West holds precious. Israel, assaulted on all sides, Israel which would be annihilated if they had their way.

Did you see the footage on the news of that guy blowing away randomly with a Kalashnikov from a window ? It's a different world. As soon as the oil has run out, let us run out too and leave them to fight out their own sectarian rubbish.

[Theland]

it's getting worse isn't it?

[kwicky]

Israel also cannot be trusted. With a spate of UN resolutions still not adhered to, a nuclear program which they deny (except for a slip of the tongue last week), a 20' high concrete border which steals land belonging to the Palestinians, cluster bombs in Beirut killing many innocent women and children.........need I go on?