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| Middle East |
| PA steps up fight against Hamas in Gaza |
| 2002-10-16 |
| Palestinian Authority security forces arrested two members of the Aqel family in the Nusseirat refugee camp in Gaza City on Tuesday as part of their efforts to arrest Imad Aqel, the self-confessed murderer of Col. Rajeh Abu Lihyeh, the commander of the riot police in the Gaza Strip. Sources said Amin Aqel, 16, and Abdullah Aqel, 17, were arrested at the entrance to the camp. The two were taken to an undisclosed location. ... where they are being beaten... A PA security official confirmed the arrests, saying the police were checking whether the two were linked to Abu Lihyeh's assassination. Tuesday's arrests have increased tensions between the PA and Hamas, which has distanced itself from the slaying of the police commander. "Nope. Wudn't us. Nope, nope." Efforts to reach a deal between the two parties have reached a deadlock because of Hamas's refusal to help in the arrest of the suspected murderer. "Hold a Hamas member responsible for something he does? Are you nutz?" Imad Aqel is believed to be hiding inside the Nusseirat camp, which is surrounded by scores of "You'll never take him alive, coppers!" "Well, I wouldn't go that far..." "Mahmoud, if they come close to him, shoot him!" "Hokay, boss!" "Say! Wait a minute...!" Last week, PA Military Intelligence agents arrested another member of the Aqel family, Ziad, 37, a teacher, as he made his way home from work. "You'll never take him alive, either, coppers...!" "Now stop that!" Leaflets distributed in Gaza City on Tuesday said the families of six Palestinians who were killed by PA policemen last week would avenge their deaths. The leaflets said the names of the "Oslo policemen" involved were known to the families. They described the PA as a "corrupt" regime. Prob'ly had something in there about rule by gangsters... Also on Tuesday, a special committee formed by the Palestinian Legislative Council to investigate the Hamas-PA crisis met in Gaza City to discuss a draft proposal that would end the standoff. The proposal calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and bringing to trial the murderer of Abu Lihyeh. "Mahmoud...!" "Hokay, boss! One step closer, an' he's toast!" Hamas leader Ismail Abu Shanab said his movement is not a party to the conflict. "The PA is asking us to hand over the murderer, and we told them that he's not with us and we have nothing to do with him," Abu Shanab said. ... washing his hands piously... He added that the differences with the PA and Fatah have still not been resolved, because Hamas has refused to condemn the killing of Abu Lihyeh. Hamas issued a statement condemning all assassinations and killings, but did not clearly condemn the murder Abu Lihyeh. "Yes. We're against bad stuff. Everybody knows that... Well, not specific bad stuff. Just, you know, bad stuff." Fatah wants a clear condemnation of the murder because it feels that without it, they will open the door to"giving Hamas the power to dictate to the PA how to implement laws and policies," one of the Fatah PLC members who was involved in mediation efforts said. Bassam Abu Sharif, an adviser to PA Chairman Yasser Arafat, said the PA has set an ultimatum for Hamas to facilitate the arrests. He said police may start searches for the killers as early as Tuesday night. It really sucks, being the PA, and that turns out to be the real meat of the matter. The Paleothority is pretending to be in charge, but while everybody was being fitted with dynamite belts Hamas was setting up in business as the real power in Gaza, with tentacles in the West Bank as well. As Yasser becomes more impotent, Sheikh Yassin grows stronger, and that's not going to wane until Sammy and the ayatollahs are out of business. Thanks to Ben for the tip... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |