News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) According to the Associated Press, the ongoing rift between rival terrorist groups Fatah and Hamas has prevented thousands of Muslim residents of Gaza from making a pilgrimage to Mecca this year.  Saudi Arabia allows 2,100 Gaza Muslims to make the pilgrimage every year.  11,000 have registered this year, paying a fee of $420 to put their names on the list.

After taking over Gaza, Hamas required the Mecca hopefuls to deposit their registration money into a Hamas account.  Fatah has refused to accept the would-be pilgrims, saying that if their money is not in a Fatah account, the Palestinian Authority cannot begin making the necessary arrangements for the trip.  Both sides have refused to compromise, and most of those on the list are unable to pay the fee a second time.