Abbas opts for appeasement as Hamas mounts West Bank challenge
RAMALLAH — Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has
rejected a plan to destroy Hamas in the West Bank.
Palestinian sources said Abbas rejected a plan submitted by PA security
chiefs for an assault on Hamas strongholds throughout the West Bank. The
sources said the plan called for the arrest of hundreds of senior Hamas
operatives and the closure of charities, schools and offices, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Abu Mazen [Abbas] said such an operation would lead to civil war," a
Palestinian source said. "He has approved limited operations where
necessary, but not anything that would threaten Hamas."
The sources said the plan was endorsed by Fatah leaders, including the
chiefs of most of the PA security forces. They said the Fatah leaders warned
of plans for a Hamas takeover of the West Bank in 2009.
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The PA has cracked down on Hamas in several cities in the West Bank. The
latest operations have taken place in the southern city of Hebron, regarded,
along with Nablus, as the biggest stronghold of Hamas.
On Oct. 1, Hamas operatives in Hebron appealed to the leadership not to
conduct talks with Fatah unless the PA ends its operations. The Hamas
operatives said the PA was raiding Hamas institutions and confiscating
charity funds.
Over the last week, the PA and the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip have
been releasing prisoners in an effort to facilitate a reconciliation
dialogue scheduled to take place in Egypt over the next few weeks. Hamas has
demanded the resignation of Abbas when his term ends in January 2009.
