Situationen på västbanken

Khaled Abu Toameh skriver om den politiska situationen på västbanken. Abbas ställning försvagas, många inom hans eget parti är missnöjda.
Läs mera: Palestinian Affairs: Turmoil in the territories
"On the eve of his visit to Washington, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas managed to alienate many in Fatah, plunging the ruling faction into one of its deepest crises since its founding more than 40 years ago.
The uproar was triggered by two controversial decisions that were taken by Abbas: to form a new government headed by Salaam Fayad, and to hold the sixth general assembly of Fatah in July in the West Bank."
"Just before the new government was announced last week, a group of top Fatah officials made a last-minute appeal to Abbas to reconsider his position. "How can you ignore the fact that Fatah is the largest Palestinian faction in the West Bank?" they protested. "How come neither you nor Fayad saw it fit to at least consult with Fatah about the formation of the new government?"
To express their outrage over the move, the Fatah officials announced that the faction would boycott the government, and even vote against it, if and when it is presented to parliament for approval. Some Fatah figures - among them legislator Hatem Abdel Kader - who accepted an invitation to serve as ministers in the new government, were strongly criticized by their colleagues. "

2 Hamas men, PA officer killed in Kalkilya clash
Denhär veckan har 4 Hamasmedlemar och en palestinsk polisman dödats i strider som utbrutit när palestinska poliser försökt arrestera Hamasmän.
Hamas uppmanar nu sina medlemmar att behandla de palestinska säkerhetstyrkorna på samma sätt som man behandlar sionistfienden (en krigsförklaring).