A good days for criminal thugs

Ah yes, those Fatah moderates in action.Ynet News reports:

The tensions in Gaza were felt all the way in the West Bank city of Qalqiliya where merchants in the local marketplace decided not only to mark down prices but also shave off their beards. "Nowadays a beard is no longer a religious decree, it's a clear and present danger," one of the merchants told Ynet. "Fatah harasses anyone with a beard and beats them, so may Allah forgive us if we remove ours to stay safe. As it is the beard is optional and not mandatory," he said.

In Ramallah last weekend three French citizens were badly beaten by Fatah men who suspected them of being affiliated with Hamas due to their facial hair. Hamas meanwhile has accused Fatah of persecuting the religion of Islam and subsequently anyone who looks religious due to his appearance. (…)Midday official Palestinian security troops arrived, wearing facemasks.

I am not sure how one actually distinguishes armed thugs of the Palestinian security forces from armed thugs of Hamas but ain’t Palestinian secularism a grand thing to behold? And in the grand tradition of Fatah Palestinian equality, liberty and religious freedom; the PA Chairman has outlawed armed groups from the West Bank, well, only armed Hamas members and Fatah’s Al Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade will continue to enjoy a free pass. Taken from Ha’aretz:

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday outlawed the armed groups of the Islamic Hamas organization, his office said. The move comes in the wake of Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip last week. On Thursday, Abbas dissolved the Hamas-Fatah unity government, and on Sunday swore in a new cabinet of technocrats. A senior aide to Abbas initially said Sunday that the Hamas movement itself was banned. But his office later said that the ban applied only to the armed groups of Hamas, including the Executive Force and the military wing, Izz A Din al-Qassam.

One of the better editorial pieces I have read in the last few days is this one from the Jerusalem Post which ends with this dire warning resulting in the consequences of failing to take heed of the lessons learned and drawing the appropriate conclusions.

Yet there is a chance that, given the opportunity, they are ready for peace. However slim that chance may be, we do know this: If the West continues to offer Palestinians nothing more than a choice between Hamas and a corrupt Hamas-lite, they are likely to continue to choose Hamas.

And Canada's position - our political overlords have decided to support a corrupt Hamas-lite organization. Yippe!