http://www.washtimes.com/world/20060523-125534-6766r.htm
Palestinian cops, Hamas battle in Gaza
By Ravi Nessman
ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 23, 2006
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Hamas militiamen and Palestinian police attacked each
other with assault rifles and grenades in a chaotic firefight yesterday that
turned downtown Gaza City into a battlefield and killed an aide to the
Jordanian ambassador.
The shootout near the parliament building, which also wounded 11 persons,
was the worst fighting since the Hamas-led government sent its militia into the
streets last week and increased fears the Palestinians were sliding toward
civil war.
The violence, which has killed eight persons in two weeks, was fueled by a
bitter power struggle between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from the
Fatah party and Hamas militants, who won January parliamentary elections and
gained control of the Palestinian Cabinet.
The tension has played out on street corners throughout the Gaza Strip,
where the bearded members of the 3,000-member Hamas -- wearing their trademark
camouflage pants, black shirts and black caps -- stand guard only feet away
from the Palestinian police, many of whom are Fatah loyalists.
Mr. Abbas, who has railed against the violence, told the Palestinian daily
Al Quds that he has the power to disband the government and call elections.
"But such a decision would not be justified unless Hamas gets a full
opportunity [to rule]," he said. "If it fails, then we can talk about
disbanding the government."
Hamas officials think the new force is the only way they can assert power
and gain respect after Mr. Abbas seized control of the Palestinian security
branches.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey condemned the violence
and criticized the Hamas-led government for failing to protect its people. The
United States and other Western nations have listed Hamas as a terrorist
organization because of its attacks on Israel.
"We're troubled by this kind of escalation in intra-Palestinian violence,"
Mr. Casey said.
The nearly hourlong shootout yesterday had Palestinians fleeing and left a
wide swath of Gaza City deserted.
A running battle followed, with Hamas gunmen sealing off streets between
the parliament and police headquarters and taking up positions behind trees,
walls and cars. Some Hamas gunmen holed up in two buildings under construction,
then hurled grenades and fired a rocket-propelled grenade at police.
Palestinian police responded with gunfire.
Khaled Radaida, 55, an aide to Jordanian Ambassador Yehiya Qarallah in
Gaza, was killed as he drove past the gunfight in his Audi, which had a red
diplomatic license plate. Three bullets hit the car's front windshield.
Jordan demanded an immediate inquiry into the shooting, which came amid
increased tensions between Hamas and the Jordanian government. Jordan has
accused Hamas of smuggling weapons into the kingdom for use in attacks against
public institutions and officials.
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