GAZA: Fatah holds mass rally in Gaza amid growing tension with Hamas.

Tens of thousands of Fatah supporters gathered in Gaza to express loyalty to President Mahmoud Abbas' faction amidst growing tension with rival Hamas. The rally took place a day after Abbas announced Hamas security force in Gaza illegal. Tens of thousands of supporters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah rallied in the Gaza Strip on Sunday (January 7), putting on a show of force in the stronghold of the governing Hamas Islamist movement. The two factions have been locked in a violent power struggle that some Palestinians fear could spark civil war. The internal unrest has worsened since Abbas called last month for early elections to break a political deadlock with Hamas. "The message is that the rifles of Fatah remain directed against the occupation but these rifles will not hesitate to protect Fatah men, these rifles will be united to defend Fatah people," Mohammed Dahlan, a senior Fatah leader and Palestinian legislator, told the roaring crowd. Dahlan, a former security chief and a man considered to be Fatah strongman, taunted Hamas during his speech, telling bodyguards to move away. "I don't need anyone (to protect me), let Hamas kill me', Dahlan said, as Fatah gunmen in the crowd fired automatic rifles into the air. The rally in Gaza's main stadium was called to mark the 42nd anniversary of the once dominant Fatah movement, which suffered a surprise loss to Hamas in parliamentary elections a year ago. Witnesses put the crowd at tens of thousands and said it was one of the biggest Fatah rallies in Gaza in years. It comes a day after Abbas declared illegal a Hamas security force in Gaza. That drew a sharp response from the Islamists and a vow by its Executive Force to double its size to 12,000. The secular-nationalist Fatah, co-founded by Yasser Arafat, who died in late 2004, has for decades been seen as a leading force for Palestinian statehood. While analysts say Fatah has done to little to improve its standing or unite after being routed by Hamas in the 2006 elections, officials at the rally suggested the conflict with Hamas had helped restore some solidarity. Fatah might get another chance after Abbas called last month for fresh parliamentary and presidential elections after failed factional talks to form a Palestinian unity government. Hamas created its Executive Force after forming a government last March and had defied a previous order by Abbas to integrate personnel into other security services. At a news conference held in Gaza City shortly before the Fatah rally, the Palestinian Resistance Committees (PRC) -- which is taking part in the Hamas security force deployed across Gaza -- announced it will not allow the force to be removed. "First of all, we the resistance members who participate in (Hamas') backup force, will not allow anyone to attack the member of the force, and we announce that we will target as collaborator with the occupation and as a spy working for the occupation anyone who wants to harm any of the members," said Abu-Abir, a spokesman of the group. Western governments want Abbas to triumph over Hamas, which the United States and Israel regard as a terrorist group. The Bush administration will provide $86 million to strengthen security forces loyal to Abbas, according to documents seen by Reuters on Friday.

ITN Source | January 8, 2007

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