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| Middle East |
| Nablus: The Locus of Palestinian Civil War? |
| 2004-01-19 |
| On 25 November 2003, Baraq Shakaa, of Jordan, was ascending the staircase of relatives in Nablus for a holiday visit on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr family visit. Without warning he was shot dead by a squad of gunmen hiding in a dark alley of Nablusâ ancient Casaba. Shakaaâs death was probably a case of mistaken identity. The hit teamâmembers of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigadesâhad apparently meant to kill his brother, Ghassan Shakaa. Ghassan Shakaa is not only the mayor of Nablus, but is also a member of the PLO Executive Committee, and of Arafatâs Security Supreme Committee based in the Muqataa. Had the hit succeeded, it would have been the first purely political assassination in the Palestinian Authority. The result could have been what many have been predicting for some time, a civil war. But this would not have been civil war in Gaza between Fatah and Hamas. Rather, it would have been a civil war in Nablus between Fatah and Fatah. Friction between the aristocratic families of Nablus and its environs are nothing new. These local tensions originated in the areaâs feudal history, when the main families of Nablus controlled all aspects of life in the nearby villages. The influx of refugees into the neighborhoods along Nablusâs main thoroughfare has only exacerbated the tension. However, what were previously purely local squabbles have taken on a larger aspect, causing major splits within the Fatah organization and often breaking into open violence. Fatah terrorist wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades have taken the side of the historically âoppressedâ, while the political-economic wing of the organization took the part of the ruling familiesâthe âoppressors.â The main families of Nablusâthe Masri, Kanâan, Shakâa, Tuqan, and Shuman familiesâare united in what has become known as the Masri confederation. Naturally, this group seeks to further its interests via economic means. The al-Aqsa Brigades, based in the refugee camps have a different strategy; their activities take the form of organized terrorismâand not only against Israelis. In fact, attacks against Israeli civilians are merely a tool in the wider struggle. These attacks are a means whereby the al-Aqsa Brigades gain national legitimacy, in order to gain leverage in the internal struggle against the Masri confederation. The Brigadesâ popularity in Nablusâgained through its attacks in the buses and cafes of Israelâhas given weight to their designation of the Masriâs as Takhwin, or traitors. This designation is the legitimatizing the murder of Nablusâs traditional leadership. In an economic conference held in Nablus back in 1997, major differences appeared between the Masris on the one hand and the then PA finance minister, the Muhammad Zuhdi Nashashibi on the other. Nashashibi called on the wealthy Palestinian families to put their money under the control of the PA, to be administered by an economic committee controlled by the PLO. The astonished families told the PA minister that only a free market economy could allow a future Palestine to avoid the fate of Somalia. In the intervening years, both parties have organized militias; the Masris were allied with Jibril Rajoubâs Preventive Security, while the refugee camps were represented by Force 17 |
| Posted by:Paul Moloney |
| #9 The "Shuman" family? Wonder if it was ever spelled "Schumann" or a variation of? |
| Posted by: Anonymous2u 2004-1-20 12:07:15 AM |
| #8 Jibril Rajoubâs Preventive Security Are these guys like Paleo Mall Cops? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-1-19 10:19:37 PM |
| #7 "aristocratic families of Nablus" They're kidding, right? "Aristocrat" and "Nablus" (or anywhere else occupied by the Paleswhinians) is an oxymoron. Oh, wait - "moron" - "Nablus".... Never mind. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-1-19 3:09:18 PM |
| #6 The gunmen were hiding in a melon? Cinderella: Crime Queen |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-1-19 11:07:30 AM |
| #5 "... a modern and progressive leadership is seen as a threat to the current PLO government." heh heh I also like them calling eachother 'the oppressors', too funny. Yeah, hurry up with that wall. |
| Posted by: 4thInfVet 2004-1-19 10:23:38 AM |
| #4 Sweet. Put up the wall & let them kill each other. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-1-19 9:52:37 AM |
| #3 The deadly Casaba. Very similar to the Irish potato bomb. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-19 9:40:45 AM |
| #2 ...he was shot dead by a squad of gunmen hiding in a dark alley of Nablusâ ancient Casaba. The gunmen were hiding in a melon? I think he meant qasbah or casbah. If Phil hadn't recommended reading it, I would have stopped right there. |
| Posted by: Gasse Katze 2004-1-19 8:52:26 AM |
| #1 This post says it all. No further comment is required. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2004-1-19 5:46:07 AM |