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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| PLO considers to announce Gaza "a rebel region" |
| 2008-08-11 |
| (Xinhua) -- The decision-making body of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) discussed an idea of announcing the Hamas-controlled Gaza "a rebel region", sources said on Sunday. According to the sources, the PLO executive committee discussed the plan recently after peaceful efforts to end the split between the West Bank and Gaza seem to have scored nothing. "A large trend is being crystallized among the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in Ramallah to call for settling the situation with the Gaza Strip by force," the sources said. In June 2007, Hamas ousted the long-dominant Fatah movement, routed forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas and seized control of the coastal strip. As Hamas tightened its grip on Gaza, Abbas consolidated his rule in the West Bank. Efforts to make reconciliation between the two sides often failed as each party cracked down against the supporters of the other party. Before announcing Gaza a hostile entity, the Palestinian leadership wants "to give the last chance for the Egyptian government and the Arab League to convince Hamas to immediately end its coup and engage in the dialogue," the sources said. "But the door for dialogue will not be open forever and the leadership only gave one month time for the efforts," the sources added. The plan would deem Gaza "a rebel territory ruled by armed militia." Accordingly, all services offer to the Gaza Strip, such as coordinating for sending food, paying the expenses of electricity and water, and paying for its employees would be halted. The Gaza banks will also be asked to shut down and the PNA will stop sending currency to Gaza. The leadership, at the end, will call on the United Nations to send forces to liberate Gaza from Hamas. Commenting on the report, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom said such decision "will be a dangerous thing if it was officially made." "It will boost the internal split and separate Gaza from the West Bank," Barhoom said, adding that "Fatah elements who dominate the PLO's executive committee have a plan to prevent any attempt of approach between Hamas and Fatah." He also considered such a decision "sort of punishment for 1.5 million Gazans." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Going to the mattresses. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2008-08-11 12:49 |