Official accuses PA of targeting Hamas members in West Bank
Published today (updated) 18/10/2014 19:43
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=733808

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- A Hamas official on Saturday denounced what he called
attempts by the Palestinian Authority to "silence" and marginalize members
of the movement after security forces "attacked" rallies the day before.

Ramallah-based leader Saed Abu Bahaa urged officials in the Palestinian
government of national unity to investigate the "attacks," which occurred
during rallies organized by by Hamas supporters to condemn Israeli attacks
on the Al-Aqsa mosque compound.

"We consider oppressing rallies in support of Al-Aqsa -- despite the fact
that they had obtained the needed licenses -- as a major and serious breach
of freedoms," he said in a statement.

"Hamas views the practices of PA security services against supporters of
al-Aqsa and Jerusalem as attempts to silence any voice opposing the
judaization of the holy Aal-Aqsa Mosque," he said, adding that some
Palestinian circles are against those who oppose the Israeli occupation
authorities' plans to take control of Jerusalem and its holy places.

Abu Bahaa warned that the attacks on the rallies was indicative of a wider
crackdown against the movement, suggesting that leaders in the security
forces of the previously Fatah-dominated West Bank were targeting Hamas.

Hamas "is feeling the smell of PA-led policies which seek to keep Hamas out
of the political scene and treat Hamas as a prohibited movement in the West
Bank," he said in the statement.

There have been several indicators which prove this, he added, pointing to
the banning of Hamas flags during rallies and banning Hamas activities more
broadly, as well as assaults and arrests of Hamas supporters.

"Those who engage in these acts have been living a dream and an illusion
that they can veil Hamas from the Palestinian street, but they know very
well that Hamas is deep-rooted in this land with its branches high in the
skies," he added.

Abu Bahaa's comments suggest rising tensions between the Fatah-led PA and
Hamas in the West Bank, despite the existence of a government of national
unity between the groups agreed upon in April.

The political division between Fatah and Hamas began in 2007, a year after
Hamas won legislative elections across the Palestinian territories but was
subjected to a boycott by Israel and Western countries that left the economy
in a fragile state.

In that year, however, Hamas accused Fatah members in the Gaza Strip of
engineering a coup to bring down the government, which led to street clashes
and ended with Hamas control over the Gaza Strip and a Fatah-led government
in the West Bank.

The April 23 agreement earlier this year ended seven years of political
division between the parties, but since then the unity government has been
beset by budget difficulties as well as Israeli and international pressure
against the inclusion of Hamas in the government.

Critics say Israel has repeatedly sought to undermine the deal, including
through a massive arrest campaign targeting Hamas members across the West
Bank over summer as well as the 50-day assault on Gaza that killed more than
2,000.

While Palestinian officials have stressed the need for national unity in the
face of these attacks, in the West Bank security forces have kept up
pressure on Hamas members and stood by as Israeli forces detained hundreds
of them.

Delays in the reconstruction of Gaza in the wake of the Israeli summer
assault that left more than 110,000 homeless, meanwhile, has led to growing
frustration and represents a major challenge to political unity.