The Hamas government on Friday recalled a controversial paramilitary force from the streets of Gaza on the second day of cross-party talks to resolve deadly Palestinian feuding and political crisis. The move came one day after Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas threatened to call a referendum to end the deadly rivalry between Hamas and his former ruling Fatah party that has focused on security control.Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya, who has resolutely backed the force that was vetoed by Abbas, however, downplayed the withdrawal as a “redeployment” that was intended only to “consolidate unity and alleviate tension”. Ten people have been killed in recent clashes between Hamas and the Abbas-controlled security services, which spiraled in the 11 days since the Islamists deployed the new paramilitary force sparking talk of possible civil war.
| Bumping off ten people always alleviates my tension, too, though it really doesn't consolidate my unity. Takes at least two dozen to do that. |