Fatah And Hamas Hugging, Making Up, Releasing Each Others' Prisoners
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday ordered the release of 40 Hamas members from PA prisons in the West Bank as a "goodwill gesture" to the Islamic movement on the occasion of the Muslim feast of Id al-Fitr. The decision came two days after Hamas released 30 Fatah members who were being held in its prisons in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas government said that move was also a "goodwill gesture" for the Muslim holiday. The release of the Hamas and Fatah prisoners is likely to pave the way for the resumption of reconciliation talks between the two parties in Cairo early next month... Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri... said Hamas continues to favor the establishment of a "unity government" that would bring all Palestinian factions together... Abbas... also dismissed pressure to prepare for a "military confrontation" with Hamas in the Gaza Strip... "He believes that we must give the dialogue a chance before talking about a confrontation with Hamas," [Fatah] officials said. "And he is convinced that the dialogue would be successful in solving the crisis with Hamas."
It's either this or Fatah cedes control of the West Bank anyway. Looks like those battalions of Fatah soldiers that the US has been arming and training aren't going to be fighting Hamas. I wonder if they'll find anyone else to turn their guns on.
References:
* PA, Hamas mutually release prisoners [JPost]
* Fatah To Politically Cede West Bank, Palestinian Authority To Hamas (Plus: Remember Obama's Magical "I Only Negotiate With Terrorist States" Threshold?) [MR]
* State Dept: Sure Abbas Just Said That Palestinians Should Invade And Overrun Israel, But How About We Give Fatah Some More Weapons And Military Training? (Plus: Hamas Closer Than Ever To West Bank Takeover) [MR]
Previously:
* State Dept: Sure Abbas Just Said That Palestinians Should Invade And Overrun Israel, But How About We Give Fatah Some More Weapons And Military Training? (Plus: Hamas Closer Than Ever To West Bank Takeover)
* Hamas Continues Long Tradition Of "Shaking" And "Threatening" And "Endangering" Ceasefire By Firing Dozens Of Rockets At Israeli Schools And Hospitals
* Israel Pardons Another Wave Of Terrorists, Hamas Fires Another Wave Of Rockets At Israeli Schools And Hospitals
