Gazans fear clashes in Hamas-Fatah security dispute

[barb162]

Gazans fear clashes in Hamas-Fatah security dispute
Mon May 1, 2006 6:23am ET

GAZA (Reuters) - A new Palestinian police force being set up in Gaza by the governing Islamist Hamas movement has raised fear of violence.

Tensions between Hamas and the rival Palestinian Fatah group have soared since Hamas swept to power in a January election.

Hamas's Izz el-Deen al-Qassam brigades will be the backbone for the 3,000-member force. Fatah, which opposes its formation, has announced plans for a 2,000-strong militia of its own.

But while some Gazans predict armed clashes between Hamas and Fatah gunmen, others see the new police force as a means of fighting lawlessness in an area ruled by militia might.

snip

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2006-05-01T102320Z_01_L01409998_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-SECURITY.xml

[bemildred]

1. No sense of irony I guess.

"Fear of violence" in Gaza?
:rofl::rofl:

These brigades, questionable as they may be, will end the violence in Gaza, if they succeed, at least by non-governmental forces. Something that Fatah never bothered with when they supposedly ran the place. And that has a good deal to do with the election of Hamas, if the stories about that are to be believed. Of course, they may not succeed.