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Recent Hamas Fatah clashes (File)
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| By israelinsider staff April 1, 2007 |
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The Friday assassination of a sheikh in Gaza City brings to the surface Hamas' recent power struggle with a new group known to be associated with al-Qaida and the Salafi sect of Islam, the Jerusalem Post reported Sunday.
The immediate blame Fatah launched at Hamas following the assassination was strongly reminiscent of past infighting, as reports that Fatah is training new recruitments in Egypt also surfaced Sunday.
According to the Jerusalem Post, witnesses reported that four masked gunmen shot to death Sheikh Adnan Manasreh, a prominent member of the Gaza Salafi community, as he walked out of a mosque in the Gaza City Shajaiyeh neighborhood last Friday. The gunmen also injured two of Manasreh's relatives.
"Unlike Hamas, the Salafis believe that Muslims should not engage in politics. Instead, they argue, Muslims should stick to Islamic activities, particularly jihad, and promote Shari'a rather than an Islamic political program or state," reported the Jerusalem Post.
A senior PA security official, citing PA intelligence, reportedly told the Jerusalem Post that "Hamas's fingerprints are all over this murder."
The official continued, saying that the tensions between Hamas and the Salafis were aggravated further recently when Ayman Zawahiri, an senior al-Qaida official, accused Hamas of selling out to Israel and international demands in its attempt to form a unity government.
This tension between has been ever apparent lately as the appearance of Salafi members in Gaza has been harshly criticized by Hamas. Salafis and al-Qaida are reportedly trying to establish themselves in the area. Within the past six months, two Salafi sheikhs have been killed in Gaza and the West Banks -- deaths for which the PA has been quick to blame Hamas.
Hamas outwardly rejects the accusations, calling them an attempt to cause internal friction.
"These lies are being spread by Fatah and its media outlets," said Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Ayman Taha. "They are aimed at driving a wedge between our people. Some people in Fatah are trying to renew the infighting [with Hamas]."
Fatah training gunmen to renew infighting
Fatah has created a new security force in the Gaza Strip, called the Special Force, already 1,400 strong and planning to recruit 1,000 more, in order to prepare itself for renewed fighting with Hamas, should the conflict break out again, reported Haaretz Sunday.
The Special Force, headed by Sami Abu Samhadana, who played a large part in the First Intifada, is comprised of combatants solely loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah.
Palestinian sources say that, "anyone with any sort of affiliation to Islamist groups will not be accepted."
According to Haaretz, "The sources, loyal to Fatah, add that the cease-fire between the two rival factions is regarded as a temporary arrangement, to be terminated as soon as Hamas 'perceives itself strong enough to overtake Fatah militarily.'
"Therefore, the sources say, the Special Fatah Force along with Abbas' Presidential Guard will have an important role in deterring Hamas from resuming hostilities."
According to sources, 350 Special Force recruits, along with hundreds from the Presidential Guard wave gone to Egypt for military training. Others are training in Gaza and Jericho.
There is, however, a weapons shortage problem. Sources reportedly said that Egypt shipped 200 assault rifles to the Fatah forces three months ago with an okay from the Israeli Government. Haaretz also reported, however, that Abbas insisted to Condoleezza Rice during her recent Mideast visit that Israel approve the transfer of arms to his forces - a request rejected by both Israel and the U.S.
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