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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Gaza chaos escalates as Egypt border blocked
2006-01-05
RAFAH, Gaza Strip -Security chaos in the Gaza Strip escalated further on Wednesday when gunmen loyal to the ruling Fatah faction barred access to the border with Egypt and tried to kidnap the parents of an American peace activist killed by an Israeli bulldozer three years ago.
Escalate further?
After taking over a series of government buildings in the city of Rafah, around 100 gunmen supposedly loyal to Fatah then took up positions at the entrance to the border crossing, which is Gaza’s only link to the outside world.

Witnesses said the gunmen had initially allowed civilians into the terminal after checking their identities, in a bid to stop only those affiliated with the Palestinian Authority. But they later prevented anyone from approaching the terminal, the second time in less than a week that the Rafah crossing has been forced to close.
Wonder if it's also closed to heavy weapons' smuggling?
Security sources and witnesses said the gunmen were demanding the release of a local leader of the radical Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed offshoot of Fatah, who has been arrested over his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Gaza-based British rights activist Kate Burton and her parents.
Posted by:Steve White

#5  'The security chaos would damage Fatah's standing."
WTF ? You mean it's standing as rocket launching organization of unbathed paleo nose pickers ?
Posted by: wxjames   2006-01-05 16:05  

#4  aw, hell....give 'em a country.

("hell" being the operative word)
Posted by: PlanetDan   2006-01-05 15:24  

#3  Craig and Cindy Corrie were nearly abducted on Tuesday night from the home of a pharmacist, Samir Nasrallah, who managed to dissuade the gunmen by telling them about the background of his guests.

Nasrallah said the gunmen wanted to kidnap the Americans to use as bargaining chips to secure the release of the man held over the Burton’s kidnap.

Any chance those two idiots were aware of their predicament? If not, were they told? Would be very interesting to know.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, who is standing as Fatah candidate in the West Bank town of Jericho, also acknowledged that the security chaos would damage Fatah’s standing.

“I am sure that there will be some damage but all in all people understand that Fatah has called the elections ... as a way to restore law and order,” he told AFP.

Well that's a novel way to think about it; elections "restore law and order". I guess there's no need for police then. (as if the "police" really existed there)
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2006-01-05 15:18  

#2  Well, it worked. The mook's out...

Palestinian Militant Freed After Rampage

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Palestinian authorities Thursday released a militant held in connection with the kidnapping of a British family in Gaza, a day after his followers went on a rampage and smashed holes in a wall along the Egypt border.
The Gaza-Egypt border crossing was calm, a day after two Egyptian troops were killed in the melee.
Palestinian security officials refused to comment on why they released Alaa al-Hams, a militant from the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades which is affiliated with the ruling Fatah Party.
"I was released as a result of the agreement reached between Fatah and the (Palestinian) Authority yesterday. This will calm all types of protests from our side," al-Hams told The Associated Press by telephone.

Oh, yeah. I've got really high hopes for these people...
Posted by: tu3031   2006-01-05 12:26  

#1  
kidnap the parents of an American peace activist who committed bulldozer suicide killed by an Israeli bulldozer three years ago.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-01-05 08:45  

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