Gunmen attacked the convoy of the Palestinian foreign minister and raided a training base for an elite security forces unit Sunday, stepping up factional violence over a decision by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to end nine months of Hamas leadership and call early elections.The Palestinians have a decision to make. Do they want to continue down the path of unending violence and squalor, or do they want to make a break with the violence and deal with the reality of Israel's existence. Hamas is unwilling to accept Israel's continued existence, as does Fatah, but Fatah is more willing to engage in taqiya to lull Israelis into a false sense of security until such time that the Palestinians can mount a war that they can win against the Israelis. Fatah will take Israel piece by piece, but that is insufficient for the Hamas fanatics, whose core belief predicated upon the destruction of Israel.
A 19-year-old woman and a Palestinian security officer were killed in the chaos, while at least 13 people were wounded in gun battles across Gaza City. In one symbolic attack, Abbas' empty residence came under fire. Militants also fired two mortar shells at Abbas' nearby offices.
Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, in a first response to Abbas' decision, said the Islamic militant group would boycott a new vote and accused the moderate president of inflaming an already tense situation.
"We confirm that the Palestinian government refuses the invitation to early elections because it is unconstitutional and could cause tension among Palestinians," Haniyeh said. He said Abbas' speech calling for new elections was "insulting to the sacrifices and the pain of Palestinians everywhere."
The foreign minister, Mahmoud Zahar, escaped unharmed. But Hamas accused
Fatah forces of carrying out the shooting.
Earlier in the day, in an attack blamed on Hamas, dozens of gunmen raided a training camp of Abbas' Presidential Guard near the president's residence, killing a member of the elite force.
The attack on Zahar's convoy unleashed a ferocious gunbattle that raged in the main streets of Gaza City for more than an hour. Medical officials said a 19-year-old woman was killed in the crossfire.
UPDATE:
Glenn Reynolds wonders when will the world (and the Palestinians) acknowledge that the Palestinians are in a civil war. After all, Hamas and Fatah are now taking potshots at the leadership of their foes. Does breaking out the mortars count? Shots are fired at Abbas' residence, even though he wasn't home.
Calling for new elections isn't going to save Abbas or the Palestinians from a conflict with Hamas since Hamas is not only against new elections, but has been trying to wrest power from Fatah ever since Hamas won the majority of seats in the PA.
Technorati: terrorism, nasrallah, fatah, haniyeh, Gilad, Shalit, Olmert, carter, Abbas, Regev, Goldwasser, PRC, Hamas, Gaza, palestinian, Israel, hizbullah, hezbullah, hezbollah, lebanon, syria.
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