Security, bone of contention in Gaza

An Iranian expert in the Palestinian issue says security remains as bone of contention among Hamas and Fatah as the two movements seek to form a unity government.

Expert with the pro-Palestinian NGO Neda Institute, Sayyed Jafar Razavi was speaking to Qudsna on the recent agreement between the two Palestinian movements for forming a national unity government.

Razavi said the nine-article agreement has remained silent about the status of Palestinian security apparatus as well as the PLO formation, adding that the agreement has made no stipulation for the membership of the two Palestinian resistance movements of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the organization.

The expert said while Hamas runs its own security apparatus in Gaza, the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority has turned its security apparatus into an intelligence body, covertly directed by the western intelligence bodies.

The Neda Institute expert noted that Hamas has only agreed to allow the ministries of a prospective unity government to be protected by the PA guards in Gaza while keeping its own security body in place.

The expert noted that the two sides have yet to discuss such security issues as the status of the weapon of resistance, the Hamas security body, the tunnels and the Hamas rockets.

Asked about the Hamas motivations for accepting the agreement, the expert said Hamas arguably sought to ease pressures as it faced the burden of its employers' salaries compounded by the siege problems.

"Hamas seeks to use the political chance of the agreement while keeping away the burden of political problems" caused by the siege," he said.

The expert was then asked whether the agreement would make the Gaza population to perceive Hamas as a source of destruction while perceiving Fatah as the source of development. Razavi did not approve the idea. "Gaza people have already showed that while they may complain about the shortages they always underline that the resistance has kept them alive," the expert noted.