This is being passed on for news value only. Usual warnings apply: if they had the kind of energy needed to sustain a civil war, they would have had a state by now. Anyway, they're shooting at each other again:

You'd think that at some point the futility of continued fighting would begin to set in, and they would realize that nothing is gained by continuous low-level violence. To anyone in the international community who's holding out that hope: understanding that random, useless violence is "bad" instead of "honorable" is not precisely a well-established sensibility in the Palestinian population. Just take our word on this one.

Abbas is complaining that they're on the verge of civil war again. We're beginning to think that "civil war" is the new "peace" - the Palestinians are perennially on the brink of making the commitment, but they never seem to have the energy to go all the way. And there's always a chance / threat that they'll half-heartedly begin again some time in the indefinite future:

No doubt. What else are they going to do in Gaza, since they can't slip across the fence to kill Israelis?

References:
* Hamas, Fatah fighters in gun battle near key Gaza crossing [Ha'aretz]
* Abbas: Palestinian people are on the verge of civil war [JPost]

Previously:
* Mere Rhetoric: Palestinian Non-Civil War Watch: Blah Blah Blah
* Mere Rhetoric: Palestinian Non-Civil War Watch - Kidnappings Resume
* Mere Rhetoric: Palestinian Non-Civil War Watch - Hamas Judge Killed

Cross-posted to:
* Israpundit