Palestinian chaos: Fatah's Popular Army on the loose


GAZA CITY - Despite opposition by the Palestinian Authority, Fatah has deployed its so-called Popular Army. Over the last month, Fatah's Popular Army has clashed with Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip. In most cases, the army was used to attack rivals and disrupt protests by unions and opposition groups. Palestinian sources said the Popular Army has been employed by Fatah officials who also serve in the PA. They said the PA has used the Popular Army to help impose control over Palestinian society. "We are on the verge of civil war if the situation remains out of control," Palestinian legislator Khaddoura Fares said. [On late Wednesday, suspected Fatah gunmen shot and seriously injured a senior officer of PA military intelligence. Palestinian sources said the gunmen were trying to abduct the officer from downtown Gaza City.] On Oct. 2, a Popular Army member fired at taxi drivers near the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis. The taxi drivers had closed the Bani Suheila  junction in protest of an increase in fuel prices. The shooting resulted in the death of a 30-year-old taxi driver, identified as Yasser Atiya Baraka. Another driver was shot and injured. PA police did not respond. Later that day, another Fatah group attacked a PA police station in the Jabalya refugee camp north of Gaza City. Palestinian sources said the attack was meant to protest the appointment of Maj. Eyad Kilab as a director of the Criminal Intelligence Bureau. Palestinian sources said Fatah has trained a force of about 3,000 members of the Popular Army. They said members - some of whom were used to protect evacuated Israeli communities in September - have received a salary from Fatah drawn from PA funds. The Popular Army was also said to have been involved in the latest armed clashes in the Gaza Strip in which at least three people were killed and 43 injured. During an Oct. 2 battle, Popular Army members were seen protecting a PA police station from Hamas attack in the Shati refugee camp. The following day, PA police stormed the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza City and demanded retaliation against Hamas. The police fired into the  air during a legislative session which later called for the dismissal of all PA security chiefs. "People are saying this is a test for a Palestinian state," PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said. "If we continue on this path these people will say we  don't deserve one."  Source: MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE