AMMAN, Jordan, May 10 (UPI) -- Arab press roundup for May 10:
The Palestinian al-Hayat al-Jadeeda commented Wednesday that a recent statement declaring the establishment of an al-Qaida branch in the Palestinian territories is not surprising, regardless of whether it's true or not. The mainstream daily said the Israeli policies ignoring the Palestinian Authority and the U.S. support for Israel's "aggression" was expected to lead to the emergence of al-Qaida in Palestine. It stressed that although the statement was not similar to those issued by al-Qaida and was filled with grammatical errors, it still indicates a trend that could materialize, "just as the occupation authorities tried to materialize it in the past." The West Bank-based paper said the Palestinian security services have in the past discovered the Israelis tried to plant agents in Gaza claiming to be al-Qaida and attempted to recruit elements. It argued the presence of al-Qaida will not harm the Palestinian cause at this time since its emergence is merely a result of Israeli policies in "repressing Palestinian moderation, developing the (Jewish) settlements and imposing unilateral solutions and conditions." The unjust international economic sanctions against the Palestinian people, the paper said, is providing fertile ground for al-Qaida. The pro-Fatah paper added it does not blame al-Qaida if it exists, but blames the occupation and the international sanctions "because the belligerent Israeli policy and the colluding American policy in killing all chances for negotiations led to Fatah's defeat and brought Hamas in the elections." It predicted these policies will also weaken Hamas in favor of al-Qaida.
The London-based al-Quds al-Arabi warned the clashes between Fatah and Hamas supporters in Gaza on Tuesday threaten a civil war that will be difficult to control for months or years. The independent Palestinian-owned daily said while overtures by both Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas' Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh showed goodwill to contain the confrontations, intentions alone are not enough and awareness alone will not stop the bloodshed. The paper argued that while senior officials from Fatah and Hamas "smile before the cameras as if they are in total agreement, incitement continues by their armed elements against each other," while the political leaders hurl accusations at each other. It is no secret, the paper stressed, there are Fatah leaders who are openly trying to foil the Hamas government and refuse to accept their defeat in the election, saying some of these leaders have formed and hired their own militias. It said the two sides must be completely frank about the reasons for their tension if they want to reach practical solutions that can be applied on the ground. "The situation is very sensitive and an eruption of a civil war will lead to disasters and bloodbaths," the paper warned, saying should this happen, there will be "no more government, no presidency and no influential figures from either side left."
Egypt's al-Ahram said in its editorial said that Hamas and Fatah are both responsible for the rise in tension and armed confrontations between them in Gaza. The semi-official daily added that both sides have been escalating their rhetoric against each other and weapons are available in the hands of the factions. "If weapons were allowed in the past when Hamas was an opposition resistance movement, it should never be allowed now after the movement formed a Palestinian government and is responsible for the security of all Palestinians and their rights," it insisted. The mass-circulation daily said there is a substantial problem in the relationship between the Palestinian factions and that rising tension raises fears of a civil war that will "topple what ever is left of Palestinian rights through giving a free reward for the new Israeli prime minister." A national dialogue proposed by Abbas is now necessary to agree on a national agenda that will determine the behavior of every party, it said.
Syria's official al-Thawra commented the Palestinians desperately needed to put the Palestinian house on sound foundations and "turning their guns towards the Israeli enemy." The state-controlled daily said the Israelis were happy that a new attrition front was opened, not only against the Hamas government, but against the entire Palestinian situation. The clashes in Khan Yunis in Gaza was no isolated incident, it insisted, but an expected result of failing to reach agreement and placing personal and party interests above the highest interests of the Palestinian people. The daily said the investigation commission should find specific results on who and what organization was responsible for shedding Palestinian blood and to place fair bases to end the weapons chaos and multiple authorities "which is totally different than political pluralism." The struggle in the Palestinian arena today is not between the authority and opposition, it said, because both factions (Fatah and Hamas) are in power and they should find a quick mechanism not just for peaceful coexistence, but for understanding and common action to serve the Palestinian people's interests.
Jordan's independent al-Ghad published a cartoon depicting the ongoing fighting and power struggle between Fatah and Hamas. The cartoon shows two men wearing black-and-white kuffiyas (traditional Palestinian head-dress) around their necks in the same wheelchair. Each is holding a gun in one hand and strangling each other with the other hand as they try to push each other off the wheelchair.
