Palestinian security forces storm cabinet building

HUNDREDS of Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas went on a violent rampage against the Hamas-led government last night, riddling the parliament and Cabinet buildings with bullets to protest an attack against their comrades in the Gaza Strip by Hamas gunmen.

The security men shot out the windows of the parliament before storming the Cabinet building, where they smashed furniture, destroyed computers and scattered documents. No casualties were reported.

“Every time they touch one of ours in Gaza, we will get ten of theirs in the West Bank,” said one member of the Preventive Security force, which is loyal to Mr Abbas’ Fatah movement.

Dozens of gunmen from the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a pro-Fatah militia, joined the security men.

The rampage followed an attack in Gaza by Hamas gunmen on a Preventive Security installation.

The attack set off day-long clashes that left two dead and 14 wounded.

Mr Abbas has been locked in a bitter power struggle with Hamas since the Islamic group beat Fatah in legislative elections. Hamas now controls the parliament and cabinet.

The power struggle has revolved around control of security forces. With most forces loyal to Abbas, Hamas has deployed its own private militia in the Gaza Strip, raising tensions between the sides.

Earlier in parliament, Hamas lawmakers backed away from a showdown over Mr Abbas’s decree announcing a referendum which implicitly recognises Israel. Instead they said they would allow more time for talks to resolve the dispute.

The parliament had convened to consider a motion by Hamas to declare illegal the July 26 referendum over the political document, which implicitly recognises Israel by envisaging a Palestinian state alongside it.

But the Islamic militant group, which advocates Israel’s destruction, said it would delay lodging the motion until June 20.

Mr Abbas hopes accepting a two-state solution would help the Palestinians to end crushing international economic sanctions against the Hamas government. He also thinks it would promote Palestinian statehood and diminish fighting between Hamas and Fatah.