Members of the Hamas-affiliated Iz a-Din al-Kassam terrorist militia shot at a vehicle owned by Fatah-affiliated Al-Aksa Brigades member Samich al-Madahun, less than 24 hours after leaders of both groups ordered its members to disarm.
Al-Madahun was not in the car at the time and the assassination attempt failed. His two brothers, however, were not as fortunate. Both were wounded and taken to the hospital.
In response, tens of Fatah gunmen were back on the streets, vowing vengeance for the attempted murder. Three Hamas members were wounded within hours – one as he walked to prayers at a mosque, a second in a drive-by shooting and a third as he stood outside his house. However, no one claimed responsibility for the attacks, and neither faction blamed the other.
Hamas leader and PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh joined with Fatah chairman and PA President Mahmoud Abbas in condemning the escalating violence which on Monday and Tuesday took three lives and wounded 14 others, including more than 10 children.
Both leaders gave strict orders to gunmen to “end their armed initiatives and to prevent the use of arms,” but appeared to have no impact. Threats that “the government will use all its powers to impose the law” went unheeded. Pleas to end “mutual accusations inside mosques, in the media and on the internet” have been ignored.
An announcement by Fatah spokesman Ahmed Hilles that “anyone who carries arms will be considered an outlaw” has also had little effect.
PA sources said tensions are at a breaking point, with continued concerns that an open civil war may burst out.
In an effort to defuse the situation, Israel bowed to European Union pressure and agreed on Thursday to release part of the tax revenues it collected from PA Arabs on behalf of their government.
The United States gave the move a green light on the condition that the money transfer would bypass the Hamas government, and be used for humanitarian purposes only, not to pay PA workers’ salaries.
A senior Hamas member said Wednesday that the terrorist group is now willing to recognize peace agreements signed in the past – and might even recognize Israel – but only within the pre-1967 borders.
Khaled Suleiman told a PA parliament conference in Ramallah that Hamas would accept a Palestinian state within the ’67 borders, and would no longer oppose peace talks with Israel carried out by Abbas, according to the Ynet news service.
“The Palestinian government is unauthorized, according to the Palestinian constitution, to negotiate with Israel,” said Suleiman, but “does not oppose a possibility that Abbas will do so.”
Al-Madahun was not in the car at the time and the assassination attempt failed. His two brothers, however, were not as fortunate. Both were wounded and taken to the hospital.
In response, tens of Fatah gunmen were back on the streets, vowing vengeance for the attempted murder. Three Hamas members were wounded within hours – one as he walked to prayers at a mosque, a second in a drive-by shooting and a third as he stood outside his house. However, no one claimed responsibility for the attacks, and neither faction blamed the other.
Hamas leader and PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh joined with Fatah chairman and PA President Mahmoud Abbas in condemning the escalating violence which on Monday and Tuesday took three lives and wounded 14 others, including more than 10 children.
Both leaders gave strict orders to gunmen to “end their armed initiatives and to prevent the use of arms,” but appeared to have no impact. Threats that “the government will use all its powers to impose the law” went unheeded. Pleas to end “mutual accusations inside mosques, in the media and on the internet” have been ignored.
An announcement by Fatah spokesman Ahmed Hilles that “anyone who carries arms will be considered an outlaw” has also had little effect.
PA sources said tensions are at a breaking point, with continued concerns that an open civil war may burst out.
In an effort to defuse the situation, Israel bowed to European Union pressure and agreed on Thursday to release part of the tax revenues it collected from PA Arabs on behalf of their government.
The United States gave the move a green light on the condition that the money transfer would bypass the Hamas government, and be used for humanitarian purposes only, not to pay PA workers’ salaries.
A senior Hamas member said Wednesday that the terrorist group is now willing to recognize peace agreements signed in the past – and might even recognize Israel – but only within the pre-1967 borders.
Khaled Suleiman told a PA parliament conference in Ramallah that Hamas would accept a Palestinian state within the ’67 borders, and would no longer oppose peace talks with Israel carried out by Abbas, according to the Ynet news service.
“The Palestinian government is unauthorized, according to the Palestinian constitution, to negotiate with Israel,” said Suleiman, but “does not oppose a possibility that Abbas will do so.”