Remember, kidsâpeace comes from within.
One thing's for sure--there's not a single member of either group that's likely to bring about "peace" in the Middle East. Both of these competing factions are as bloodthirsty and violent as the Italian mafia of old, and until they're completely removed from the Palestinian territories, there will not be peace there. (It would be sufficient for the populace to stop supporting themâwhich would, like the Mafia of old, delegitimize the entire bunch, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.)
With as bloodthirsty a lot as this, the only thing that really matters is that they're directing their anger at each other, instead of the usual suspects. There's no telling how long that will last.
(Update 13:49 EST: Ha'aretz is reporting that Hamas has lost the battle for Palestinian public opinion. I predict that even if this is the case, the bullets will keep flying.)
Palestinian Youssef al-Zahar (2nd L), a leader of the Hamas-led force, shakes hands with a member of the security force in Gaza October 3, 2006. Fatah gunmen threatened on Tuesday to kill leaders of the governing Hamas group, escalating a power struggle marked by the worst internal violence in Gaza and the West Bank since the creation of a self-rule Authority in 1994. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah, said it held Hamas's Damascus-based political chief Khaled Meshaal, Interior Minister Saeed Seyam and senior Interior Ministry official al-Zahar responsible for the deaths. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
Palestinian members of the Hamas security force stand in Gaza October 3, 2006. Fatah gunmen threatened on Tuesday to kill leaders of the governing Hamas group, escalating a power struggle marked by the worst internal violence in Gaza and the West Bank since the creation of a self-rule Authority in 1994. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah, said it held Hamas's Damascus-based political chief Khaled Meshaal, Interior Minister Saeed Seyam and senior Interior Ministry official Youssef al-Zahar responsible for the deaths. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
Palestinian boys watch members of the Hamas security force as they stand in Gaza October 3, 2006. Fatah gunmen threatened on Tuesday to kill leaders of the governing Hamas group, escalating a power struggle marked by the worst internal violence in Gaza and the West Bank since the creation of a self-rule Authority in 1994. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah, said it held Hamas's Damascus-based political chief Khaled Meshaal, Interior Minister Saeed Seyam and senior Interior Ministry official Youssef al-Zahar responsible for the deaths. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
Palestinian members of the Hamas security force stand in Gaza October 3, 2006. Fatah gunmen threatened on Tuesday to kill leaders of the governing Hamas group, escalating a power struggle marked by the worst internal violence in Gaza and the West Bank since the creation of a self-rule Authority in 1994. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah, said it held Hamas's Damascus-based political chief Khaled Meshaal, Interior Minister Saeed Seyam and senior Interior Ministry official Youssef al-Zahar responsible for the deaths. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
Palestinian members of the Hamas security force stand in Gaza October 3, 2006. Fatah gunmen threatened on Tuesday to kill leaders of the governing Hamas group, escalating a power struggle marked by the worst internal violence in Gaza and the West Bank since the creation of a self-rule Authority in 1994. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah, said it held Hamas's Damascus-based political chief Khaled Meshaal, Interior Minister Saeed Seyam and senior Interior Ministry official Youssef al-Zahar responsible for the deaths. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
Palestinian Youssef al-Zahar, a leader of the Hamas-led force, arrives in Gaza October 3, 2006. Fatah gunmen threatened on Tuesday to kill leaders of the governing Hamas group, escalating a power struggle marked by the worst internal violence in Gaza and the West Bank since the creation of a self-rule Authority in 1994. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah, said it held Hamas's Damascus-based political chief Khaled Meshaal, Interior Minister Saeed Seyam and senior Interior Ministry official al-Zahar responsible for the deaths. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
Palestinian Fatah militants march in the village Ellar near the West Bank city of Tulkarm October 3, 2006. REUTERS/Mustafa Abu Dayeh (WEST BANK)
4-Oct-2006: Funeral of a slain Hamas leader
Palestinians carry the body of Hamas leader Mohammed Odeh during his funeral in the West Bank village of Hableh near Qalqilya October 4, 2006. Three masked men shot and killed Odeh, 37, a Hamas leader, as he left a mosque in the West Bank on Wednesday, witnesses said, a day after gunmen from a rival Palestinian faction threatened to kill senior Hamas members. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
The mother of Hamas leader Mohammed Odeh mourns during his funeral in the West Bank village of Hableh near Qalqilya October 4, 2006. Three masked men shot and killed Odeh, 37, a Hamas leader, as he left a mosque in the West Bank on Wednesday, witnesses said, a day after gunmen from a rival Palestinian faction threatened to kill senior Hamas members. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
The mother of Hamas leader Mohammed Odeh holds a leaflet printed with his picture during his funeral in the West Bank village of Hableh near Qalqilya October 4, 2006. Three masked men shot and killed Odeh, 37, a Hamas leader, as he left a mosque in the West Bank on Wednesday, witnesses said, a day after a rival Palestinian faction threatened to kill senior Hamas members. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
Palestinians carry the body of Hamas leader Mohammed Odeh during his funeral in the West Bank village of Hableh, near Qalqilya October 4, 2006. Three masked men shot and killed Odeh, 37, a Hamas leader, as he left a mosque in the West Bank on Wednesday, witnesses said, a day after a rival Palestinian faction threatened to kill senior Hamas members. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
Palestinians carry the body of Hamas leader Mohammed Odeh during his funeral in the West Bank village of Hableh, near Qalqilya October 4, 2006. Three masked men shot and killed Odeh, 37, a Hamas leader, as he left a mosque in the West Bank on Wednesday, witnesses said, a day after a rival Palestinian faction threatened to kill senior Hamas members. REUTERS/Mahmoud Shanti (WEST BANK)
Tags: abed omar qusini mahmoud shanti mohammed salem mustafa abu dayeh al aqsa hamas REUTERS #Intifada
Or is that my good-old-boy bias coming through?
But then we don't stand around with neighborhood kids decked out with automatic guns. Though, if Hilary C gets elected.......... jk