Uncivil War: June 16th – June 17th, 2007

Let’s see what I missed while relaxing on the Jewish Sabbath.

More fighting for a start. In the West Bank, Fatah terrorists stormed Hamas-controlled institutions and told Hamas-affiliated staffers not to return. For their part, Hamas threatened to retaliate against Mahmoud Abbas’ forces in the West Bank if they did not end Fatah “terrorism” against Hamas members. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.

Meanwhile, with hundreds of palestinians fleeing Gaza, Israel allowed senior Fatah officials and their families to move to the West Bank, via Erez crossing, with some 200 palestinians being allowed through in the past few days. Israel closed the crossing Saturday afternoon for security purposes (palestinian terrorists have a tendency to exploit situations such as this, hiding among civilians to get into Israel). It should also be noted that hundreds of palestinians later broke into the palestinian side of the crossing and began looting it.

It must have been a good day for looting, since a crowd also looted the home of deceased Fatah terror leader Yasser Arafat. I wonder if they stole the horrible red binder.

Newly appointed palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad completed

the formation of an emergency goverment today, and was to present it to

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas for approval this evening, with the US, Israel and

European states willing to bolster it by preparing to ease sanctions in the West Bank.

For his part, Hamas leader and deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh ruled out setting up a separate palestinian state in the Gaza Strip. He also appointed a new security command, replacing commanders loyal to Abbas.

In other news, Hamas gunmen exchanged fire with members of a powerful clan in Khan Yunis, and one of the main instigators of the violence, Iran, called on the palestinians to “unite against the Zionist enemy.”

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Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)

9:05PM: The Lebanese army is claiming that it discovered a rocket that was set to be launched on Israel and prevented it from being fired. So it seems like the Lebanese army can prevent rocket fire against Israel when it wants to.

8:23PM: According to the Jerusalem Post, up to 4 Katushas landed in Israel.

8:20PM: Here are two consecutive items from the Ha’aretz news ticker:

20:12     Report: Army of Islam says deal reached on release of BBC`s Johnston (Reuters)
20:14      Report: Army of Islam threatens to kill Alan Johnston (Reuters)

I guess 2 minutes is a long time in hostage negotiations.

8:13PM: No posts today until now due to the fact that my day job – the one that pays me money – didn’t allow for it.

Here’s what I missed:

Israel was attacked by what was likely a palestinian terrorist group in Lebanon. When I say attacked, I mean they fired two Katusha rockets into Israel. The rockets landed in Kiryat Shmona, and caused damage to a vehicle and roads. Thankfully, there were no injuries. Hizbullah has denied involvement, and the Israeli government has stated that we will not retaliate.

The new PA Prime Minister Salam Fayad was sworn in, while Hamas still does not recognize him nor the new government.

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree outlawing the armed groups of Hamas, and threatened to punish members.

Sunday June 17th

11:35PM: Abbas’ emergency government is to be sworn in on Sunday at 1:00PM.

11:25PM: Make that 4 Fatah terrorists killed.

11:22PM: 2 Fatah terrorists have been killed, and the bullet-ridden corpse of a Fatah field commander has been found in southern Gaza.

In another gory discovery, the bodies of 7 Hamasholes have been found in the basement of the Preventive Security Service headquarters.

11:20PM: Hamas are banning

terrorists from wearing masks,

unless they are shooting at Israel. Next on the

terrorist banned list:

Hokey-pokey

Tug-of-war

Hide & Seek

Long-distance phone calls

Drinking on the job

Toilet breaks

Showing off

Mask-beret

combinations