... or, if you prefer, Two-Party Democracy, Palestinian-Style!
There seem to be some reports of some cross-fighting between Fatah and Hamas today, as forces loyal to Fatah have reportedly tried to prevent Hamas from holding a "rally" in Gaza City and Ramallah. This rally reportedly follows an attempted assassination attempt (h/t Gateway Pundit) on Hamas leader and Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh.
My favourite picture from the event:
An excellent time for studying the Religion of Peace.
Update: We might have a couple of events being jumbled on the photo wires here. There is some "clashing" going on between the Fatah-led security forces, and "followers of" Hamas (which I'll interpret as "Hamas Thugs," as redundant as that may be. Not to preclude Fatah from being called the same, either!). Separately, Haniyeh is hosting a "celebration" of the 19-year anniversary of the FOUNDING of Hamas.
Founded, of course, by the repugnant Jew-killer Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. (Ed.: Make that ex-Jew-killer... ;) )
Funny, I don't recall hearing anything about Hamas being a "terrorist group" from the CNN International coverage on the boob tube over here. Imagine that!
Hamas: Celebrated in newsrooms around the world!
Update: Allah brings the details. This is, as he says, what happens when one "declares war on Allah." Ace speculates that this might be part of a larger Sunni-vs-Shi'ite war. The enemy of my enemy and all? Who's to say...
Update again: Is there a chance that all of this has been organized as a sleight of hand? I.e., are we being misdirected into watching these protests in order to facilitate Hamas smuggling the suitcase of cash-ola into the territories?And now, the traditional Snapped Shot Pile of Photographs:
Palestinian Hamas militants patrol a street of Gaza city December 15, 2006. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Palestinian Hamas supporters confront with members of the security forces during a Hamas rally in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 15, 2006. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
Members of Palestinian security forces take position during clashes with Hamas supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 15, 2006. (Loay Abu Haykel/Reuters)
Palestinian Fatah-loyalist security forces clash with Hamas supporters as they try to prevent a rally in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. Hamas and Fatah-allied gunmen exchanged fire in Gaza City and Ramallah on Friday fueling fears of wide scale fighting between the rival Palestinian groups a day after gunmen shot at the entourage of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Palestinian Fatah-loyalist security forces try to prevent Hamas supporters from holding a rally in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. Hamas and Fatah-allied gunmen exchanged fire in Gaza City and Ramallah on Friday fueling fears of wide scale fighting between the rival Palestinian groups a day after gunmen shot at the entourage of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Members of Palestinian security forces clash with Hamas supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 15, 2006. Security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas opened fired on a Hamas rally in the West Bank on Friday and firefights erupted between the rival groups in Gaza, pushing the Palestinians closer to civil war. REUTERS/Loay Abu Haykel (WEST BANK)
Members of the Palestinian security forces draw their weapons during clashes with Hamas supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 15, 2006. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
Members of the Palestinian security forces draw their weapons during clashes with Hamas supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, December 15, 2006. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
The local populace: Caught in the crossfire? Or cynically used as shields? Let the next four photos be your guide...
A Palestinian Hamas supporter gestures towards security forces in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 15, 2006. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
Member of the Palestinian security forces take position during clashes with Hamas supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 15, 2006. The ruling Hamas group accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah of starting a war after his security forces opened fire on Friday on a Hamas rally in the West Bank and firefights broke out in Gaza. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK)
A man runs behind members of the security forces during clashes with Hamas supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, December 15, 2006. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
A Palestinian man runs behind members of the security forces during clashes with Hamas supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, December 15, 2006. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
A Palestinian member of Hamas reads a Koran as he guards a street of Gaza city December 15, 2006. A top Hamas leader on Friday accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah of launching a war against the ruling Islamic militant group and said it would not agree to holding early elections. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
A member of the Palestinian security forces walks in front of Hamas supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 15, 2006. (Loay Abu Haykel/Reuters)
Palestinian Hamas supporters stand in front of security forces as they shout slogans during a rally in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 15, 2006. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
Masked Palestinian Hamas militants march during a rally marking the 19th anniversary of the group's founding in the West Bank town of Tulkarm December 15, 2006. President Mahmoud Abbas's security forces fired on a Hamas rally in the West Bank and gunbattles between the two Palestinian factions erupted in Gaza on Friday, prompting a top Hamas leader to accuse Abbas of starting a war. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
HANG ON THERE. Did you notice the "QAS" on the rocket above? Could that be short for QASSAM, or as I prefer to call it, the Jew-killer? (Note for the proprietors at that last link: Palestinian terrorism is limitless.)
Yep, Hamas is just another peaceful political party. That's all they are.
Update to the previous note: I just love being right... Maybe if I were as "tolerant" and "peaceful" as Nasser Ishtayeh and the jerks at the Associated Press, I'd "understand" the media's glorification of this rally.
A mock-up of a Qassam rocket is seen as Palestinian supporters of Hamas gather during a rally marking the 19th anniversary of the founding of the group in the West Bank town of Tulkarem, Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)
And now, for the Glory of Jihad! Here are some pictures of PM Haniyeh's speech at this Hamas "rally:"
Palestinian Prime Minsiter Ismail Haniyeh waves to his supporters during a Hamas rally marking the 19th anniversary of Hamas' foundation in Gaza December 15, 2006. The ruling Hamas faction deployed armed militants in key parts of the Gaza Strip on Friday, one day after it accused rival Fatah forces of trying to kill Haniyeh, Hamas sources said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
A Palestinian gunman from Hamas attends a Hamas rally marking the 19th anniversary of Hamas' foundation in Gaza December 15, 2006. The ruling Hamas faction deployed armed militants in key parts of the Gaza Strip on Friday, one day after it accused rival Fatah forces of trying to kill Haniyeh, Hamas sources said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
Hamas supporters rally in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. Hamas and Fatah-allied gunmen exchanged fire in Gaza City and Ramallah on Friday fueling fears of widescale fighting between the rival Palestinian groups a day after gunmen shot at the entourage of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
[Ed.: Nice of the photographer to pay such homage to the ex-terrorist, eh? Also note that Hamas claims the entire territory of Israel in the background. I don't expect any editorials pointing THAT out anytime soon...] Palestinian Prime Minsiter Ismail Haniyeh speaks during Hamas rally marking the 19th anniversary of Hamas' foundation in Gaza December 15, 2006. A top Hamas leader on Friday accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah of launching a war against the ruling Islamic militant group and said it would not agree to holding early elections. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
This one gets my Second-Favourite award. I'll call it, "Equal Rights, Palestinian-Style:"
A veiled Palestinian supporter of Hamas holds up a Koran during a rally marking the 19th anniversary of Hamas' founding in the West Bank town of Tulkarm December 15, 2006. President Mahmoud Abbas's security forces fired on a Hamas rally in the West Bank and gunbattles between the two Palestinian factions erupted in Gaza on Friday, prompting a top Hamas leader to accuse Abbas of starting a war. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK)
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas is surrounded by bodyguards as he waves to supporters during a rally in Gaza City, Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. Leaders of both Hamas and the rival Fatah group warned in recent days that the spiraling violence threatened to bring the Palestinians to civil war and the fighting Friday came a day after gunmen shot at the entourage of Haniyeh in an attack the group said was orchestrated by a powerful Fatah leader. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
Surrounded by bodyguards, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas, center at podium, speaks to supporters at a rally in Gaza City, Friday, Dec.15, 2006. Leaders of both Hamas and the rival Fatah group warned in recent days that the spiraling violence threatened to bring the Palestinians to civil war and the fighting Friday came a day after gunmen shot at the entourage of Haniyeh in an attack the group said was orchestrated by a powerful Fatah leader. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
Waving the flag of Jihad, eternally. Or, as Charles calls it, Palestinian child abuse:
A Palestinian child waves a Hamas flag during a Hamas rally marking the 19th anniversary of Hamas' foundation in Gaza December 15, 2006. The ruling Hamas faction deployed armed militants in key parts of the Gaza Strip on Friday, one day after it accused rival Fatah forces of trying to kill Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas sources said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
A Palestinian child waves a Hamas flag during a Hamas rally marking the 19th anniversary of Hamas' foundation in Gaza December 15, 2006. The ruling Hamas faction deployed armed militants in key parts of the Gaza Strip on Friday, one day after it accused rival Fatah forces of trying to kill Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas sources said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)
Palestinian masked militants from the ruling Hamas party, march during a rally marking the 19th anniversary of the creation of the Islamic movement in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. Clashes have erupted between feuding Palestinian factions after the ruling Hamas party accused its Fatah rivals of trying to kill prime minister Ismail Haniya in a dramatic escalation of tensions.(AFP/Said Khatib)
And here is the "happy, peace-loving" shot that will make all of your newspapers tomorrow morning. I love the peace sign--After all, "peace through DEATH and GENOCIDE" is still "peace," right?
Backdropped by a poster of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, center, and Damascus based leader Khalid Masaal, supporters of Hamas gather during a rally marking the 19th anniversary of of the founding of the group in the West Bank town of Tulkarem, Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)
Tags: adel hana ammar awad emilio morenatti loay abu haykel mohammed salem AP REUTERS #Intifada
