If I am on strike because of you, and you are on strike because of me; does anyone notice?

In a way, it is all rather novel that Hamas and the PLO’s infighting on the weekend actually made the western newspapers, but this weekend’s violence has prompted Hamas to close down government offices to protest the PLO general led strike that has closed private schools and shops today. Ha’aretz reports:

Hamas militiamen withdrew from the streets of the Gaza Strip on Monday and returned to their normal posts after the worst day of internal violence since Hamas took control of the Palestinian government in March.

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party enforced a general strike, closing shops and private schools in a show of force against Hamas. For its part, the Hamas-led government ordered all ministries closed to protest Fatah attacks on government buildings.

Fatah militants also released Samir Birawi, a Hamas official in the Finance Ministry they had briefly kidnapped, telling him his abduction was intended to send Hamas a message to end the Gaza violence, Hamas officials said. The Fatah men also burned Birawi's car.

Palestinian Authority President Abbas has called for renew “unity” coalition talks with Hamas, but ultimately, the little bit of authority Abbas had among his own Fatah party is rapidly breaking down. And don’t think Hamas doesn’t know it.

The resulting chaos in the occupied territories is the natural result of a western leader being propped up far past his best before due date. Abbas’ legitmacy to represent and lead his people is being questioned far beyond Hamas party member circles. The on-going clashes are the result of that questioning coming to the forefront. When even your own won’t follow; who else can you lead and where else can you except maybe down the garden path on the road to perdition?