Not their most original move. But at least this time they're giving the sycophantic international press something shiny to look at while they orchestrate a takeover and grab billions worth of weapons and aid:

In recent days Hamas has mostly focused on a different arena: against Fatah in the West Bank. The death of Majd al-Barghouti, a Hamas imam, in a Palestinian Authority prison, offered Hamas an easy chance to attack the PA in the Arab media. The PA's security organizations were portrayed once more as collaborators with Israel and the United States who do not hesitate to torture and kill, even when their victim is a religious figure. The thousands of Palestinians who participated in the imam's funeral on Sunday highlighted the fact that the PA is trying hard to forget: Hamas is still popular in the West Bank. From Israel's point of view, the promised confrontation at Erez appeared to be farcical. Dozens of photographers on a knoll at the southern side of Moshav Nativ HaAsara, and across from them, on the horizon, smoke rising from burning tires that Palestinian demonstrators set ablaze.

Now when you read that "Hamas is still popular in the West Bank", you might be inclined to think that Fatah support is holding steady. That, unfortunately, is kind of the opposite of true. Not that it makes much difference who's formally in charge.

UPDATE: Right on schedule:

"Without the massive IDF presence in the West Bank, Hamas would take over the institutions and apparatuses of the Palestinian Authority within days," OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni told President Shimon Peres Tuesday as the two toured the Command's main base in Jerusalem. Shamni said Hamas was engaged in a constant effort to increase its influence in the region "and its presence is felt in hospitals, preschools, schools, universities and mosques."

References:
* Hamas Has 200 Tons Of Explosives That The US Gave To Fatah (Plus: Egypt Says It's Israel's Fault) [MR]
* ANALYSIS: In the end blood was shed in Sderot, not Gaza [Ha'aretz]
* PA Police Getting More Than $5 Billion In New Aid To Use Against Israeli Civilians, Lose To Hamas [MR]
* Hey, How About Having Fatah Support Plummet In The West Bank? [MR]
* Fatah Moderates Respond To Billions In Aid By Stressing Unity With Terrorists [MR]

Previously:
* Abject Failure Keith Dayton Moves Goalposts To Justify US Security Assistance, Lets Abbas Try Again
* Fatah: We're Going To Use Our New US And Russian-Supplied Weapons To Fight With Hamas Against Israel (Plus: Hamas Upgrades, Stockpiles Their Qassams)
* PA To Get 25 Shiny Helicopter Busting APCs Next Week