Analysis: Divisions complicate Gaza truce efforts

[DogPoundPup]

excerpt~
Both Hamas and its rival, the Palestinian Authority headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, want a hand in running the borders. Egypt is trying to cobble together an arrangement that would involve both factions in crossing security.

But that would require the two Palestinian factions to resolve the virulent rift between them over control of Gaza, which Hamas seized after driving out Abbas loyalists in bloody fighting in 2007. Meanwhile, Israel and the United States, which along with the European Union consider the group a terror organization, would be reluctant to accept a Hamas role at the crossings.

The other key to controlling the border is international monitors to prevent smuggling. Turkey has volunteered to put together a monitoring mission, but the question is what powers they would have?

Israel wants them to actively search out smuggling tunnels along the border and has also suggested it wants direct American involvement, which Hamas would likely oppose. Egypt also rejects any international force on its side of the border, insisting it can handle anti-smuggling efforts.

more ... http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_MIDEAST_DIVIDES_ANALYSIS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-01-15-17-01-22

[bemildred]

1. See, this is what the "4th generation war" stuff is about.

Nobody is actually in a position to make and enforce agreements. So the chaos continues.

[DogPoundPup]

2. insanity...pure and simple made for tee-vee insanity thrust on the entire world

to drive everyone crazy