Fatah moves against Hamas in West Bank

Hundreds of Fatah gunmen today stormed Hamas-controlled institutions across the West Bank, seeking revenge for the Islamic group’s takeover of the Gaza Strip, while Hamas forces blew up the home of a prominent Fatah family and deployed at strategic locations to solidify their control of Gaza.

The violence reflected the deepening divisions between the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the Fatah-controlled West Bank.

The battles have effectively turned the areas into separate political entities, endangering the Palestinian dream of forming an independent state in the two territories.

Despite Hamas promises of amnesty, dozens of Fatah supporters tried to flee Gaza. Fatah officials said at least 50 senior leaders have already reached the West Bank.

Dozens of Palestinians converged on the Erez crossing with Israel on their way to the West Bank.

Some people wheeled large suitcases on luggage carts. One young man shouted: “Bye, bye, Gaza,” and waved as he walked through the covered walkway that leaders to the Israeli side.

Israel said it would allow “humanitarian cases” to cross.

At the same time, hundreds of people looted police positions on the Palestinian side of Erez, and at one point Israeli troops fired in the air to keep the crowd at bay. The looters walked off with furniture and scrap metal. Other Palestinians tried to flee south to Egypt.

In the West Bank, President Mahmoud Abbas’ newly appointed Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad, moved forward with plans to form an emergency government. Officials close to Abbas, of Fatah, said the government would also include members from Gaza in a bid to preserve Palestinian unity. But Hamas officials called the move illegal.

Since seizing control of Gaza on Thursday, Hamas has tried to impose law and order in the area – in part due to fears that members in the West Bank could be harmed. Saturday’s attacks on Fatah targets were the most serious so far.

In Ramallah, hundreds of Fatah gunmen took over the Palestinian parliament and other Hamas-controlled government offices, telling staffers that those with ties to Hamas will not be allowed to return.

At the parliament, several hundred Fatah supporters chanted, “Hamas Out”, while gunmen climbed on the roof of the building and fired in the air. They planted Fatah and Palestinian flags on the building.

They also whisked the deputy speaker, a Hamas ally, out of the building, but were prevented from pushing him into a car. The gunmen planted Fatah flags and Palestinian banners on the buildings they had taken over.

Many government employees tied to Hamas had not showed up for work today, the start of the work week in the West Bank. Apparently, the staffers feared reprisals.

Other Fatah activists took over the Education Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office.

In the West Bank city of Nablus, Fatah gunmen took over the Hamas-controlled city council and planted the Fatah flag on the top of the building. Fatah supporters also kidnapped seven Hamas supporters, and deposed a senior member of the Religious Affairs Ministry. In Nablus, Fatah gunmen stormed government offices and ordered senior Hamas-linked officials to stay away.

Hamas and Fatah have been locked in a power struggle since the Islamic group swept parliamentary elections in January 2006. After several bouts of infighting, the tensions in Gaza erupted into all-out civil war early in the week, and Hamas routed Fatah-allied forces in Gaza.

Hamas forces blew up the home of a prominent Fatah family, collected their rivals’ weapons and deployed hundreds of security men at strategic locations - pushing forward with its pledge to bring law and order in Gaza.

With Hamas firmly in control, Gaza City’s streets largely returned to normal Saturday. Outdoor marketplaces were alive, and traffic jams clogged the streets - a dramatic contrast to the fierce street battles seen earlier in the week.

Khaled Abu Hillal, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said troops from Hamas’ militia, known as the Executive Force were deployed in the streets to ensure calm. “They are going to provide the people with all the security they have lacked in the past few years due to the bad behaviour of some corrupt agents,” he said.

Hamas units took up positions at former Fatah security buildings. At the damaged headquarters of the Preventive Security Agency, Hamas said it found the bodies of seven people it claimed were executed by the pro-Fatah force before it was routed.

Islam Shahwan, spokesman for the Executive Unit, said his forces were out to protect the public. “We told all Palestinian security personnel who still have weapons to surrender their weapons,” he said. It was not known how many weapons have been confiscated.

Despite Hamas’ pledges of calm, looting persisted at key Fatah symbols, including former security buildings and the once-opulent home of former Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan. Looters ripped out electric wiring from the wall, and a group of people also burned down the garden outside, witnesses said. Dahlan has fled to the West Bank.

Since losing control of Gaza, Abbas, the moderate Palestinian president, has been trying to assert himself. He fired the prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, and has since appointed US-educated economist Salam Fayyad to lead a new emergency government.

Palestinian officials said Fayyad hoped to complete formation of the government by the end of the day. Officials said the Cabinet would include ministers from Gaza, underscoring Abbas’ claim to lead all Palestinians.

In Gaza, however, Deputy Parliament Speaker Ahmed Bahar of Hamas said the new government would be illegal.