CAIRO, Egypt - Arab governments appear at a loss how to stop the stunning wave of Palestinian factional fighting, which threatens to wreck the region's already faltering efforts to resume the Arab-Israeli peace process.
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Arabs watched television footage of the Gaza fighting in despair. "May God curse you all," Egyptian columnist Ahmed Ragab wrote, referring to the Palestinian factions.
The chaos is a heavy blow to U.S. Arab allies who have tried for months to mediate an end to the disputes between the militant Hamas movement and the mainstream
Fatah faction led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Regional power Saudi Arabia has stayed silent about the clashes in Gaza since they began five days ago, a sign of its anger at the two sides and its reluctance to get involved.
The kingdom put its political clout on the line in February when it hosted a summit between Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal aimed at ending a previous bout of factional fighting. The summit in the holy city of Mecca ended with a deal on a Palestinian unity government that Saudi Arabia touted as a major breakthrough and is now in danger of collapse.
"It is hard to see Saudis or anyone else expending political capital and sticking their neck out for the Palestinians while gunmen controlled by Hamas and Fatah turn Gaza into a homegrown killing field," Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper said in an editorial.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, of which Saudi Arabia is a member, issued a statement urging the two factions "to adhere to the Mecca agreement, which laid down a solid base to overcome the current bottleneck in the Palestinian arena."
Some said the fighting showed the power-sharing deal only papered over the disputes between Hamas and Fatah. "The Mecca agreement didn't get into the deep-rooted divisions between Hamas and Fatah," said Saudi writer Khalid al-Dakhil.
Those who signed onto the deal at Mecca knew it faced opposition from extremists on both sides, said Abdel-Bari Atwan, editor-in-chief of the London-based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi.
Hamas' military wing was not happy with a freeze in attacks on
Israel, while Fatah hard-liners wanted "to topple the agreement because they don't want a partner or the national unity government," he said.
Other Arab leaders have been able to do little else but call for an end to the fighting. President
Hosni Mubarak, who mediated between Abbas and Mashaal during a meeting in Cairo last month, spoke by phone with Abbas on Thursday, telling him, "Palestinian blood is sacred."
Jordan's King Abdullah II also spoke to Abbas, urging him to show more resolve to end the fighting and to press Hamas to stop rocket attacks on Israel that threaten to widen the conflict.
"The violence must stop for the sake of the Palestinian people, and for the sake of Palestine," the king was quoted as saying in a royal palace statement.
Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — all key U.S. allies — have been trying to persuade the United States and Israel to accept an Arab peace initiative as a starting ground for relaunching peace negotiations. The deal offers full peace with all Arab nations if Israel withdraws from territories captured in the 1967 Middle East War and a Palestinian state is created.
With the Arab countries already struggling to bring Israel on board, the new fighting threatens to make the offer all but irrelevant.
Arab TV stations showed constant images resembling a war zone in Gaza, with masked gunmen in the abandoned streets and people rushing the wounded away on stretchers. Al-Jazeera broadcast live from its offices in Gaza, where journalists in flak jackets and helmets were trapped as gunfire raged outside.
Viewers in the Arab world — long loyal advocates of the Palestinian cause — were stunned and said the turmoil only benefits Israel.
Some blamed the Palestinian factions for a futile fight over power. Zeinab Mohammed, a 21-year-old Egyptian student, said the factions were "serving no one but their own personal interests."
"America, Israel and the whole West want to see us divided," said 47-year-old Kamal Abu-Zeid, wearing thick eyeglasses, and selling newspapers in front of Cairo University.
Sateh Nourredine, managing editor of Lebanon's As-Safir daily, said Gaza "is out of control."
"No one knows where it will lead. They've tried mediation by Egypt, the Arab League and the Mecca agreement. They've had direct talks and a national unity government. Then the situation explodes in this catastrophic way," he told The Associated Press. "There is no political logic to what's happening."
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
Fatah is a secular nationalist organization. They only care about political power, they have no real concern for Palestinian Muslims. Hamas was elected by the majority of Palestinians, but Israel, Europe, and America supported Fatah to start this pointless war against democratically elected Hamas government. Palestinians themselves need to get wise and realize who their true defenders are (hamas) and abandon the short-sighted palestinian nationalists (fatah). Fatah had half a century to free Palestine and they failed miserably, now the Palestinians should render their support to Hamas.
Fatah is a secular nationalist organization. They only care about political power, they have no real concern for Palestinian Muslims. Hamas was elected by the majority of Palestinians, but Israel, Europe, and America supported Fatah to start this pointless war against democratically elected Hamas government. Palestinians themselves need to get wise and realize who their true defenders are (hamas) and abandon the short-sighted palestinian nationalists (fatah). Fatah had half a century to free Palestine and they failed miserably, now the Palestinians should render their support to Hamas.
yeah blame it on someone else, it is what you are best at
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
Al Jazeera English airs exclusive footage of a series of deadly Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip, one of which struck as Gaza correspondent Nour Odeh was live on air.
YouTube Video:
Fatah was a political party which probably deserved to be voted out, but replacing them with a terrorist organization isn't going to improve the state of the Palestinians or their chances of achieving a literal state of their own. Fatah might have been corrupt, but they were bringing in alot of money to Arafat's bank account, which was occassionally used for social programs and the like. With Hamas you will only have bombs and missiles, and the occasional suicide bomber.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
Al Jazeera English airs exclusive footage of a series of deadly Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip, one of which struck as Gaza correspondent Nour Odeh was live on air.
YouTube Video:
^^ terrible to see, perhaps Hamas should consider these consequences before firing anymore rockets into israel.. do you have a post for those rockets hitting anyone?
Of course the mother of all terrorists is America and Israel.
Do you mean the literal "mother" of all terrorists, or do you mean "mother" like Saddam's "mother of all battles" allusion? Just looking for clarification.
*Don't bother, just being sarcastic
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
What your opinion or the wordls opinion on Hamas doesnt matter. The palestinian people voted them in. No one gave them a chance to go from a "terrorist group" to a legitimate political party. Its sick to see the double standards that some guvernments have. They carry the torch of democracy and when it suits them they put the light out.
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
What your opinion or the wordls opinion on Hamas doesnt matter. The palestinian people voted them in. No one gave them a chance to go from a "terrorist group" to a legitimate political party. Its sick to see the double standards that some guvernments have. They carry the torch of democracy and when it suits them they put the light out.
It is a little hard to sit around and wait for Hamas to become a political party when at the same time they are firing rockets into Israel.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
It is a little hard to sit around and wait for Hamas to become a political party when at the same time they are firing rockets into Israel.
Yeah.....and its hard to wait for Hamas to stop the rockets attack while Israel kills more Palestinians? Understand the cycle?
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
Yeah.....and its hard to wait for Hamas to stop the rockets attack while Israel kills more Palestinians? Understand the cycle?
from what I have seen lately, Israel has been responding to attacks and has stated they wouldnt attack unless they were attacked. Seems to me if Hamas would just quit attacking there could be peace..... But I am sure you will be able to tell me different, or show some classic youtube footage
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
No i refuse 2 accept that Palestine and Israel are equal at fualts. The very fact that israel came barging in claiming most of the palestinian land is proof enough 2 show that they started the mess. Iamagine ur home, your town, your nation being ripped 2 pieces by bulldowzerz and trucktorz.wat wud you do?would u just step aside and say 'hear u go take it'. Iam sory 2 say that blame lies equaly is insulting. Yes i accept that palestinian have alot 2 answer 2, but compared 2 wat the isralis have 2 answerz too....its so much more.
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
No i refuse 2 accept that Palestine and Israel are equal at fualts. The very fact that israel came barging in claiming most of the palestinian land is proof enough 2 show that they started the mess. Iamagine ur home, your town, your nation being ripped 2 pieces by bulldowzerz and trucktorz.wat wud you do?would u just step aside and say 'hear u go take it'. Iam sory 2 say that blame lies equaly is insulting. Yes i accept that palestinian have alot 2 answer 2, but compared 2 wat the isralis have 2 answerz too....its so much more.
Obviously you think [MAD]victory is more important than peace[/MAD]
And Who is more at fualt is more important than a solution.
No i refuse 2 accept that Palestine and Israel are equal at fualts. The very fact that israel came barging in claiming most of the palestinian land is proof enough 2 show that they started the mess. Iamagine ur home, your town, your nation being ripped 2 pieces by bulldowzerz and trucktorz.wat wud you do?would u just step aside and say 'hear u go take it'. Iam sory 2 say that blame lies equaly is insulting. Yes i accept that palestinian have alot 2 answer 2, but compared 2 wat the isralis have 2 answerz too....its so much more.
you can think that garbage all you want but no one forced the palestinians to do anything. The palestinians rioted over the imigration of Jews, when Israel was declared a state, the Palestinians left, at their own free will, they were not forced from the land. They left because they knew of the Arab neighbors upcoming assault. What they didnt know is that Israel would defeat all of the aggressors, what they didnt know is that because of their actions and because of their blatant racism they wouldnt be coming back. Whos fault is that? They have spent 40 years fighting for something that they lost, fair and square. What Muslims must face is that Israel is not their land, it is the Jews land now, and whoever else lives there, they can fight and launch rockets until the end of time and it will solve nothing. They lost the land and they wont get it back. Even though I am tempted to push my opinion on one side or the other, I wont because really it doesnt matter who did more or less, both sides are wrong in what they are doing today, peace will never be attained by either side at the going rate today.
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
You really didnt see all those displaced Palestinians did you? And what about all those villiages that have been destroyed and farms taken away from farmers. A whole nation of people thrown in to poverty, for the benefit of Israel. Who is the more wealthier? Ok lets not focus on the whole issue becuase i could go on. Lets focus on 1 issue. This could reprsent the whole sitiuation in Palestine.
Why is it that in Hebron the water distrubution is controled by the Israeli's? 85% of the water is allocated to the Israeli's and 15% is allocated to the Palestinians. Look at the population ratio in Hebron you will find that Palestinians outnumber the Israeli's vastly. Why are they denied this right of water? Explain this?
We digress from the topic becuase it has so many issues. Sorry for that.
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
Yeah Wilber i to want peace, it will come to the Holy Land soon, Inshallah.
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
and once again you expose your ignorance, many muslims in the mid-east have critisized both hamas and fatah, one commentator went as far as cursing them both. so plz just because you dont see or hear something, dont make a quick assumption, it seems you believe if something is not on your neocon fox american news then its not happening, so stop showing your ignorance time and time again, its obvious your just always bringing up whatever issue you can to attack and show your hate towards against the muslims.
Last edited by Sami Zaatari; 05-18-2007 at 10:57 PM.
Reason: wrong quoting
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