Word: fatah
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...Abbas's problem isn't confined to convincing the Islamists to do an about-face - the Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigades are affiliated with Abbas and Arafat's own secular-nationalist Fatah faction, and they, too, have not bought into the idea of disarming in order to implement a "roadmap" in which they have no faith...
...Jamil Hamad: By my calculation, he's unlikely to succeed, because he faces too much opposition. He has a problem inside Fatah, his own organization. If he's going to dissolve the militias, he has to begin with the Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade. Dismantling that would send a message to Hamas and the other Islamists that he's serious. But he hasn't said how he intends to go about dismantling the Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, or any other group...
...Hamad: That's the question Abu Mazen should answer. I doubt very much that his government will be capable of disarming these groups, starting with Fatah. There have been no overtures to the militants of Fatah to discuss Abu Mazen's program. But he has held talks with Hamas. Their response is that they're not going to surrender their weapons, and plan to continue fighting the Israeli occupation. They are saying, "We advise the government not to touch us." Hamas will not surrender very easily. In fact, we should expect some violence and terror in the coming days, because...
...Already, many have criticized his new government, saying it won't be able to carry out its mission because it has ignored the younger generation within Fatah (many of whom have been waging armed actions). In fact, Abu Mazen has been criticized from many sides. Those who had expected him to clean up corruption in the Palestinian Authority have been disappointed - Yasser Arafat had a hand in 20 of the 24 cabinet appointment, so the old guard are still very strong...
...international plan to have any hope of success, another road map will be needed - for peace within the Palestinian camp. "The heavy pressure from European and Arab leaders on Arafat produced results," says Palestinian Legislative Council member Muawiya al-Masri. But it has also further strained relations within the Fatah movement, which dominates Palestinian politics and has been riven by intifadeh-related infighting. The moderate Abu Mazen is unpopular among Palestinian radicals, and some Fatah leaders have been busy smearing the new PM and his internal-security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, by painting them as stooges of the U.S. and Israel...