Gaza violence prompts call for outside help
Fighting between Fatah and Hamas escalated Tuesday, leading some to consider the deployment of a multinational force to police the volatile territory.
from the June 13, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 4
Adwan charged that this was happening with the encouragement of the US and Israel, since the two countries have been working to beef up the military capabilities of Abbas's Presidential Guard and other forces allied with Fatah.
"They are executing American and Israeli policies," he says, "because the weapons and money for Dahlan and the Presidential guard come from those two parties."
International peacekeepers
The inability to reestablish a cease-fire has prompted a growing number of Palestinians – including Abbas – and Israelis to mull the deployment of international forces in Gaza. The key challenge, analysts explained, will be coming up with an intervention plan that's accepted by Fatah, Arab countries, Hamas, and Israel.
"Many sources are reaching this conclusion in the Arab world, and within the Palestinian Authority," says Khatib. "I don't see any way out without external intervention. If it's left to the rival factions, we only face a deepening circle of violence."
But the plan for a multinational force faces several hurdles, the first of which is resistance by Hamas, which sees foreign troops as a threat to its growing control over Gaza. Hamas, which says the confrontation should be solved exclusively by Palestinian parties, has accused Arab, Israeli, and other foreign governments of training and funding forces loyal to Palestinian President Abbas.
"What do they want to do? How can they reestablish security?" asks Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesperson in Gaza. "How do I know if they want to come here to protect one side?"
But in addition to the fact that Hamas remains opposed to the idea, Palestinian analysts say it is unclear whether the Arab governments will want to send forces to jump in the middle of the Hamas, Fatah – and Israeli – melee.
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