 Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas vowed to hunt down the killers of a powerful former security chief whose gangland-style slaying Wednesday laid bare Gaza's raging power struggles just days before Israel hands over control of the coastal territory.
| I'd also say it laid bare Abbas' own impotence, as well as that of the Paleostinian Authority. I'd also guess that he's just passing verbal gas and doesn't have the capability of actually doing anything about it. Maybe in a couple years, if he lives... |
In a brazen challenge to Abbas, a shadowy militant group claimed responsibility for killing Moussa Arafat, cousin of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in a burst of gunfire. About 100 masked militants stormed Moussa Arafat's heavily guarded home in an upscale Gaza City neighborhood early Wednesday, sparking a 30-minute gunbattle with dozens of his bodyguards. The assailants burst into the home, dragged out Arafat in his pajamas and gunned him down in the dusty street. Arafat's oldest son, Manhal, a senior security commander, was kidnapped by the gunmen. Officials said negotiations, brokered by Egyptian security officials, were under way to secure his release.
| The whole family seems to be in the ruling business. There could only be one Yasser, of course, so the rest of the family got to be "senior security commanders." |
The killing raised new questions about the Palestinian Authority's ability to take control of Gaza after Israel completes its pullout next week.
| Actually, I'd say it answers the questions. They've been raised since long before Yasser became stable... |
It occurred a block from the headquarters of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service,
| ... which has so far failed to prevent anything at all... |
which failed to respond,
"Captain Mahmoud! They're gunning Moussa down in the street a block away!"
"Ignore it, Ahmed! Look at the sign. It sez Preventive Security. How ya gonna prevent it if it's already happened?"
"Right. Maybe I'll just make a donut run." |
and 400 yards from Abbas' Gaza residence, where he was spending the night. Palestinian officials said they viewed the killing as an attack on the government. "This is a very dangerous act," said Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.
| I wonder if it took him all night to figure out that gunning prominent public figures down in the streets is a "dangerous act." |
Abbas met with top security officials, placed his forces on high alert and said he would track down the killers. "This crime does not stop his efforts to maintain law and order," said a statement issued by Abbas' office.
| Doesn't help them much, though... |
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