 Hamas officials on Saturday accused Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of planning to stage a coup against the Hamas-led government by sending thousands of PA policemen to riot in various parts of the Gaza Strip. They warned that Abbas's alleged plot would ignite a bloody civil war.
| “Mashaal accused Abbas of plotting with the US and Israel to topple the democratically elected government headed by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.” |
Meanwhile, sources close to Abbas revealed that he refused to meet Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Qatar until the latter apologized for insulting him in May. In that speech at a Palestinian refugee camp near Damascus, Mashaal accused Abbas of plotting with the US and Israel to topple the democratically elected government headed by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
| ... which seems to have done a pretty good job of paralyzing itself... |
Qatar's rulers tried to arrange a meeting between Abbas and Mashaal over the weekend to discuss the formation of a national unity government, but Mashaal's refusal to apologize prompted Abbas to call it off, the sources said.
| Just as well. I don't think there's ever been a "national unity" government that's actually worked. Though not working might actually be a step up for the current Hamas government, which could be described as "counterworking." |
Abbas later flew to Kuwait, where he was to hold talks with the emirate's leaders on the current crisis between Fatah and Hamas. | “Abbas is seeking the backing of as many Arab countries as possible for a potential dismissal of the Hamas-led government...” |
Abbas, according to the sources, is seeking the backing of as many Arab countries as possible for a potential dismissal of the Hamas-led government.
| My guess would be that the only ones opposing it would be Syria and... ummm... maybe Yemen or Sudan. Possibly. |
As Hamas and Fatah representatives continued to trade allegations over responsibility for the failure of the unity government talks, thousands of PA policemen took to the streets in the Gaza Strip, shooting into the air and blocking main routes. They were protesting the PA's failure to pay them full salaries since Hamas came to power eight months ago. "We want to live, we want salaries," the policemen shouted as they burned tires in some areas. | “Sources in Gaza City said the protesters belonged to various branches of the PA security forces and were joined by several hundred Fatah gunmen...” |
Sources in Gaza City said the protesters belonged to various branches of the PA security forces and were joined by several hundred Fatah gunmen. In Deir al-Balah, a masked gunman tossed a hand grenade at a group of policemen who were blocking one of the main roads, wounding five of them. In Rafah, dozens of PA policemen threw stones at the car of Culture Minister Attallah Abu al-Sabah, smashing some windows. No one was hurt.
The protests, which began on Thursday, are seen by some Hamas leaders as an attempt by Abbas and Fatah to stage a coup against the Hamas-led government with the help of Israel and the US.
| Abbas is the head of state. Hamiyeh's the PM of a government that's patently not working. Having the head of state dismiss the gummint and call new elections isn't a "coup." |
| “These people who claim they are policemen are actually suspicious elements. These are forces of chaos and not security forces. These elements report to Abbas and he's responsible for their actions...” |
Hamas legislator Marwan Abu Ras accused Abbas of orchestrating the protests in an attempt to overthrow the government. "Abbas is behind the chaos and anarchy," he charged. "These people who claim they are policemen are actually suspicious elements. These are forces of chaos and not security forces. These elements report to Abbas and he's responsible for their actions." A statement issued by the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip claimed that Fatah was behind the protests. It noted that the protesters had opened fire indiscriminately, blocked main roads, assaulted residents and caused damage to infrastructure and private property. "These protests are designed to create more confusion in the Palestinian arena," the statement said. "The riots by the so-called policemen are part of an organized criminal campaign to trigger civil war and destroy our national institutions and achievements." |