Laying Down Smoke
For whatever reason, the media continues to carry water for the Palestinian terror group Hamas, even though they just forcibly took over Gaza by force. The AP is shopping their story and the Washington Post dutifully picks it up and touts it.
JERUSALEM, June 15 — Victorious Hamas gunmen rounded up senior military leaders of the Fatah movement in the Gaza Strip early Friday, then announced a general amnesty in a sign the Islamic movement is seeking to reconcile with its secular rivals after five days of fierce fighting.
The announcement defused worries that Hamas, which completed its swift military seizure of Gaza hours earlier, would begin dispensing victor's justice in the strip. In announcing the arrest of the commanders of the vanquished Fatah-controlled security services, Hamas officials called them "collaborators," a label indicating they work on behalf of Israel and can often mean a death sentence in the Palestinian territories.
But a few hours later, as Gaza residents emerged from their homes to walk in streets quiet for the first time in days, Hamas officials said the commanders, including the head of the Fatah-controlled Presidential Guard and the Palestinian National Forces, would not be harmed.
Per the AP story, the "amnesty" specifically applies to Fatah "leaders":
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - On its first day of full rule in Gaza, the Islamic militant Hamas on Friday granted amnesty to Fatah leaders, signaling that it seeks conciliation with the defeated forces of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The WaPo appears to have obscured that little tidbit. They also appear not to look beyond that little Hamas drama at what else Hamas is saying: That there will be no negotiation with Fatah except by way of force:
“There will be no dialogue with Fatah, only the sword and the rifle,” declared Nezar Rayyan, a top Hamas leader, on the Islamist movement’s radio station as Fatah broadcasters were bombed off the air.
Yep. That's some seeking of reconciliation. It also completely ignores other reports of Palestinian flying lessons:
Obeideh said Hamas would "offer amnesty" to all those who are with different opinions. "Our battle is not with Fatah… but with the group that tried to implement an external agenda," he said. "We protect our people's right, everywhere and anyone… regardless of their affiliation to move freely."
However, Hamas also said that a Fatah supporter was thrown to his death by the family of a man he was accused of having killed earlier.
Elsewhere, a senior Fatah official committed suicide after learning he was on Hamas's wanted list, Fatah said.
That last bit should tell you what Fatah members think of Hamas' promises of amnesty. Which are of the same believability as all of their "ceasefires". Yet the media chugs merrily along, regurgitating Hamas press releases.
Media, War, World news | Gaius Friday, 15 June , 2007
