The Waqf office was raided by some 70 gang members who held several Waqf officials hostage.
This morning, it was announced that the entire "Organization Bureau" of Fatah had resigned, in protest of what they called the "continued deterioration" in their movement. One member said that there is near-total anarchy within Fatah.
The raid last night was prompted by a Waqf decision to transfer administration of charitable organizations to local authorities. The decision went against local Fatah leaders, who claim that some of the charitable organizations are collaborating with Israel.
One of the hostages is Salah Zukheika, an official of both the Fatah and the Waqf in Jerusalem.
PA officials are trying to maneuver an end to the siege and the release of the Waqf officials. The main beneficiary of the crumbling of Fatah is Hamas, which is expected to make electoral gains at Fatah's expense.
The Israeli police have not been reported to be involved in the incident or in apprehending the gang members, despite the security and criminal ramifications of carrying out such a raid in Jerusalem on Israeli sovereign territory.
The Fatah group forms the dominant faction in the PLO and the PA, and is a leading perpetrator of terrorist activity against Israel though its military wing, the Al Aksa Brigades.
This morning, it was announced that the entire "Organization Bureau" of Fatah had resigned, in protest of what they called the "continued deterioration" in their movement. One member said that there is near-total anarchy within Fatah.
The raid last night was prompted by a Waqf decision to transfer administration of charitable organizations to local authorities. The decision went against local Fatah leaders, who claim that some of the charitable organizations are collaborating with Israel.
One of the hostages is Salah Zukheika, an official of both the Fatah and the Waqf in Jerusalem.
PA officials are trying to maneuver an end to the siege and the release of the Waqf officials. The main beneficiary of the crumbling of Fatah is Hamas, which is expected to make electoral gains at Fatah's expense.
The Israeli police have not been reported to be involved in the incident or in apprehending the gang members, despite the security and criminal ramifications of carrying out such a raid in Jerusalem on Israeli sovereign territory.
The Fatah group forms the dominant faction in the PLO and the PA, and is a leading perpetrator of terrorist activity against Israel though its military wing, the Al Aksa Brigades.