July 29,
2008: Fatah and Israel are both going
after Hamas operations in the West Bank. Israel is arresting Hamas terrorists
there, and shutting down businesses used to raise money for Hamas, or that
serve as part of terrorist operations. Inside Israel, two recent terror attacks
in Jerusalem using construction equipment (that left two Israelis dead and
several dozen injured) actually reflect the effectiveness of Israeli
counter-terror methods. There hasn't been a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem
since 2004. Arab residents of Jerusalem are the main victims of this, as they
will have a harder time getting construction jobs, or residency permits to live
in Jerusalem.
Israel's
options in Gaza, where Hamas continues to smuggle in rockets and other weapons,
are stark. Either they can assist Fatah in regaining control (and shutting down
most of the terrorist groups) or send in the army and destroy Hamas in battle
(a process that would leave hundreds dead and thousands wounded).
The
growing war between Hamas and Fatah has presented Fatah with the option to turn
on terrorist groups, and form an alliance with Israel. This is seen as the only
solution to the dozens of West Bank Israeli checkpoints that slow traffic to a
crawl, but are considered essential in limiting the movement of Palestinian
terrorists. Fatah, however, has been spouting "hate Israel" propaganda for
decades, and turning kind and gentle would split the organization. But Fatah is
being forced to ally itself with Israel, because Hamas operatives in the West
Bank are apparently under orders to destroy Fatah there any way they can, and
take control. This involves the use of Islamic radical death squads, that
murder Moslems for not being Moslem enough, and Arab Christians for not being
Moslem. Thus Fatah is fighting for its life, and making common cause with
Israel whether it likes it or not.
In the
north Lebanon city of Tripoli, nearly a week of violence between Sunni and Shia
militias has left 60 casualties. The army moved in over the weekend to stop the
fighting, and allow several thousand civilians to return to their homes. There
have been several such battles in the last two months, which have caused nearly
150 casualties. The cause is Hizbollah's attempt to extend its control into
northern Lebanon, where Shia Arabs area minority. For over a decade, Hizbollah
militias have controlled southern Lebanon, where Shia are the majority.
July 28,
2008: Israeli police found and killed a
top Hamas terrorist leader in the West Bank. Hamas quickly vowed retaliation
for the loss of their guy. Fatah continued to arrest Hamas supporters in the
West Bank.
July 26,
2008: Hamas gunmen in Gaza rounded up
the usual suspects, locking up 160 Fatah supporters. This is part of a search
for those who set off three bombs on the 25th. In some Fatah
neighborhoods, there was armed resistance, and the gun battles left at least
six wounded. In retaliation, Fatah police in the West Bank arrested three dozen
Hamas supporters.
July 25,
2008: Two bombs went off in Gaza,
apparently the work of Fatah terrorists attacking Hamas operatives. Later that
day, another bomb went off in a vehicle belonging to a Hamas military
commander, killing him and three others.