Tuesday October 18, 2005

I've Been Thinking:

The violence in Gaza is just getting worse and worse.

The Palestinian Authority is powerless, completely unable to control the situation.

The resemblance between Gaza and Iraq strengthens with each passing day.

There have been shootings and kidnappings. Westerners, journalists, academics - they are all at risk.

What is very disturbing is that the majority of the violence is NOT coming from Hamas. According to a report by the Palestinian Authority itself, most Gaza violence is perpetrated by the al Aksa Brigades. The study reports that in August, 20 incidents were perpetrated by the al Aksa Brigades, 18 by Hamas.

Here's the hard to believe part: the demands put forth by the al Aksa Brigades are most often for jobs in the PA security forces or for promotions. How silly. The Brigades are part of Fatah and Fatah is the ruling party in the PA.

How could anyone think that the people who resort to violence in order to get their way could then be trusted to keep the peace?

Kidnapping a Western journalist and beating up a university president are not good job recommendations.