War in Palestine - and for a change Israel isn't involved

[Jidoe]

CNN story

Hamas conquered the Gaza Strip and all Fatah officers fled to Egypt and the West Bank.

Personally, I think it is a good thing for a couple of reasons:

1) It's a final seperation between the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the Fatah-controlled West Bank - makes it easier to deal with two countries with different leadership than with one.

2) Once Gaza is completely controlled by Hamas, it makes it much easier for Israel to fight terrorism in the Gaza Strip, while allowing more freedom to the people of the West Bank.

[Darion]

Super, I hope it sticks.

[Savaric]

I was thinking of posting about this but then decided not to- glad you did.

It seems to me that it is a good development. From what I understand the Fatah party is somewhat willing to negotiate and doesn't take the hardline stance like Hamas. Having them seperated should make them easier to deal with (i.e. divide and conquer). I think it's good that they are distracted with themselves and I'm assuming this keeps them busy and unable to perform their terrorist duties abroad. Or at least on a reduced scale.

What is the Fatah party's stance on Israel? Is coexistence with Israel an option for them?

Would it be a sound idea to reach out to the Fatah party? Such as helping them put down Hamas? I assume they are just a lesser of two evils. But maybe there's an oppurtunity here that can be exploited.

[Jidoe]

Originally posted by Savaric
What is the Fatah party's stance on Israel? Is coexistence with Israel an option for them?

The Fatah calls for a Palestinian country on the borders of 67' (before the Six Days War) which means the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem. Therefore- coexistence is definitely an option.

Problem with the Fatah is that there is a huge difference between the leaders who push for the above and the armed men who support Fatah (and I'm not talking about the security administrations, but rather about the Alaqsa Martyrs Battalions) who are radical with their views on Israel and coexistence with it.

Would it be a sound idea to reach out to the Fatah party? Such as helping them put down Hamas? I assume they are just a lesser of two evils. But maybe there's an oppurtunity here that can be exploited.

I'm tempted to say yes, but the answer is no.

You must understand that in the Muslim culture, if a "heretic" (such as Israel or any Western country for that matter) helps one side, it only hurts it because it makes it a traitor.

For years Israel and the US have helped the Fatah and look how strong Hamas became because of it, and I'm not just talking about its arm-force, but also on the public support of the movement.

That aside, Israel has already helped Fatah by letting all its officers flee to the West Bank.