Palestinians urged to beware of factional disputes

Commenting on Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon’s plan to unilaterally leave the Gaza Strip, columnist Ahmed Rabhi wrote Wednesday that the Palestinian Authority (PA), which has been exhausted and eroded by Israel and corruption, is too weak to keep law and order in the strip.
Rabhi said that even though an Israeli withdrawal would surely be a positive development, returning Arab land to the Arabs, Sharon’s plan has already given the Palestinians and their Arab neighbors cause for concern.
Judging from the recent statements made by both Hamas and the PA, Rabhi said both sides are getting ready to assume control of Gaza once the pullout is complete, and that Egypt, which controlled Gaza before its occupation by Israel in the 1967 war, has also kept a wary eye on the area because it fears renewed violence between Hamas and armed groups loyal to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

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http://www.dailystar.com.lb/opinion/18_03_04_i.asp

Gaza is sealed off as a virtual island, descending deeper into poverty and chaos. As a prelude to it's possible exit, the IDF is hammering the area. So called security is simply another armed gang in a civil war for control, should Israel withdraw. Palestinians have turned their guns on one another and the young are being sent as homicide bombers. Indeed, it appears we may be witnessing a society beginning to devour itself. Remarkable.

I apologize for any inaccuracies in this source.

As an aside, Gaza is a relatively small dessert area with over one million inhabitants, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world. This close proximity will do nothing to defuse the situation. Oh, my.

:) :) :)

The Palestinians made Israel do it. :eyes:

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since you apparentally agree, how exactly did "the Palestinians" make Israel do it?

Does Hamas have an operative forcing Sharon at gunpoint to order assasinations, incursions, and the expansion of illegal settlements?

I would think you might explain it.

the :eyes: emoticon at the end of the message.

It is pretty obvious that it was stated in sarcasm.

I hope the situation is resolved soon, and a democratic civil society can by built. The palestinians in Gaza have lived all their lives under Israeli occupation, so of course they have no experience with democracy, freedom and human rights. I hope they can start learning, now.