Palestinian parliament buildings stormed: Hamas rejects calls to ‘renounce violence’
RAMALLAH, Jan 28: Fatah loyalists and police stormed Palestinian parliament buildings on Saturday in growing unrest after their long-dominant party’s crushing election defeat by Hamas.
On the diplomatic front, hopes of peacemaking with Israel were pushed further into limbo as Hamas leaders rejected as “blackmail” Western demands that the party “renounce violence” against Israel or risk losing aid vital to the survival of the Palestinian Authority.
Turmoil since the parliamentary election landslide has fuelled fears of internal strife as Hamas tries to form a government and possibly take over security forces packed with Fatah members at odds with the hardline group.
Thousands of workers from President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah held protests across the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, many firing automatic rifles into the air.
They took over parliament in the West Bank city of Ramallah for about 20 minutes, shouting demands from the roof before descending peacefully. Fatah militants and police also seized the parliament building in the Gaza Strip.
The protesters demanded that Fatah leaders resign. They also aimed to dissuade the party from any idea of sharing power with Hamas or letting it control security forces — after Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal said it planned to form “an army”.
“We will transform the army of the Palestinian Authority into armed militias. We are not waiting for Hamas to teach us their Islamic beliefs. We know the Quran by heart,” said Fatah loyalist Ramzi Obeid.
In Gaza, where eight people were hurt on Friday in clashes between Fatah and Hamas activists, the Fatah men were joined in their protest by police opposed to any Hamas control over them.
In a message clearly aimed at Hamas, Palestinian Authority police commander Ala Hosni said the group would not direct security forces in any case because they fell under President Abbas.
“The security institution is the only guarantee to prevent sedition and civil war. Civil war began in Somalia after the collapse of the army and security institutions,” Mr Hosni said.
Fatah leaders have so far rejected joining any coalition with Hamas, and it could take weeks to form one anyway. Popular jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi urged an orderly transfer of power to Hamas.
HAMAS DEFIANT: Hamas leaders are preparing to set up a government by themselves if need be, after winning votes from Palestinians tired with corruption and Fatah’s failure to deliver a state.
The United States has said it will review aid to the Palestinian Authority if Hamas enters government and Israel suggested it could suspend customs revenue transfers. The European Union, the biggest donor, is looking at its options.
“This aid cannot be a sword over the heads of the Palestinian people ... to blackmail our people, to blackmail Hamas and the resistance. It is rejected,” top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in an interview.
In Damascus, Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal said that not only would Hamas not disarm but it would form a new security force to defend our people against aggression”.
Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz threatened an “unprecedented Israeli attack” if Hamas abandoned the truce.—Reuters
