Things are really heating up in the Middle East.
Remember, the whole region is a powder keg -- only a precarious balance prevents all-out war. If Gaza falls to Hamas, for instance, then Israel will probably invade full-scale to conquer the whole territory -- and put the new territory towards its goal of "Greater Israel". But then you have Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq....

It's going to be a real mess.


 Gaza cινιℓ ωαr has begun: Abbas
Martin Chulov, Middle East correspondent
14 June 07

HAMAS forces in Gaza had last night encircled the few remaining security strongholds of their coalition partners, Fatah, and claimed decisive gains in what Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described as the opening battles of a cινιℓ ωαr.

The much-vaunted Palestinian unity Government, formed after a deal brokered in Mecca in April, is now under grave threat with several key Fatah ministers standing aside until the fighting stops and others claiming they will leave the Coalition for good.

The distrust that had simmered between the parties since the deal was struck spilled over again into street battles yesterday, shortly after the home of Palestinian Prime Minister, and Hamas figurehead, Ismail Haniya was rocketed and peppered with bullets.

Hamas yesterday claimed to be in control of most of the Gaza strip after its forces overran key positions of forces loyal to Mr Abbas and commandeered civilian sites, including three hospitals. More than 50 people had been killed and dozens more wounded in the latest round of fighting.

The beleaguered President had earlier ordered his forces, including the US-backed Presidential Guard to defend essential security installations and his offices in central Gaza.

"Hamas is mistaken if it thinks that it can take control of the Gaza Strip through violent means," said Mr Abbas.

"We are witnessing the first signs of a cruel cινιℓ ωαr."

Hamas had agreed to form the unity Government in a bid to break an international aid and economic blockade of the Palestinian Authority put in place after it deposed Fatah in democratic elections in January last year.

After 11 months of simmering tensions, infighting between the factions broke out in November, with Hamas accusing the US and Israel of conspiring to force it from office.

"Hamas won the parliamentary elections and formed a legitimate Government," a Gaza-based spokesman said.

"Fatah is the one that is conspiring against the legitimate Government with the help of the US, which is providing them with weapons and millions of dollars."

Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr blamed the clashes on pressures imposed by external forces. "If you have two brothers, put them in a cage and deprive them of basic and essential needs for life, they will fight," he told a news conference in Tokyo. "I don't think we should put the blame on the victim."

The Israeli Government last night said it would not enter Gaza to back Fatah forces, which it regards as moderate. However, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned of "serious regional implications" if Gaza fell to Hamas.

Israel and Egypt both suspect that Iran, and possibly Syria, had been urging Hamas to take the fight to Fatah, with Egyptian spy chief Omar Suleiman reportedly phoning exiled Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal with a plea to stop the fighting.

Mr Olmert later backed a call made last week by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for a UN intervention force to enter southern Gaza to patrol the border with Egypt in a bid to stop weapons smuggling. The force was not envisaged to play a peacekeeping role inside the restive strip itself.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch yesterday condemned both sides for committing alleged war crimes this week, claiming they had summarily executed fighters.

Hamas and Fatah allegedly each captured one of the other's members, tied their feet and hands and tossed them from the top of a Gaza City high-rise.