Joobo the King of Wisdom

Are the Palestinians in a Civil War?

The MSM likes to tell us each day that "Iraq is in the midst of a civil war," although the evidence for that is neglible at best. Some religiously-motivated killings are happening, but thousands must happen for a "civil war" to be happening.

However, let us apply the MSM's standards for what a "civil war" is - after all, if two groups of religious nuts kill each other or attack each other, that means "CIVIL WAR," right?

Of course, the MSM won't bother applying the same standard to the Palestinians, who are closer to civil war than Iraq is.

Some evidence:

Fatah, Hamas members throw firebombs at each other

Groups of Fatah and Hamas members shot at and hurled firebombs at each other on Saturday after Hamas's political leader abroad Khaled Mashaal accused Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of being a "traitor."

Three people were wounded in the clashes, which began with stone throwing.

Thousands of Fatah backers protested across the West Bank and Gaza throughout Saturday to demand that Mashaal apologize for his remarks.

Sounds like the verge of a civil war, right?

Here's more:

Reporter's Notebook: Does Hamas Face Collapse?

Reportedly, there is a detailed plan in the hands of the U.S. Near East Affairs Officer Elliott Abrams and Israeli officials on how and when the Hamas government might collapse. International pressure and cutting off much needed aid is still considered the best way to force the collapse of Hamas. The Palestinian Authority has not been able to pay their employees in two months.

Consider this:

1. About 140,000 people are employed by the Palestinian Authority. Palestinians have large families, so those salaries are estimated to support close to a million people, one quarter of the population.

2. The Palestinian Authority funds more than half the health clinics, three quarters of the schools and about 70,000 well-armed security people.

3. Where the western countries are pulling out, Islamic countries are pitching in — Iran, $50 to $100 million; Saudi Arabia, $92 million; U.S.-ally Qatar, $50 million, The Arab League, a monthly sum of $55 million.

It's not clear how the money will get into a place like Gaza, even with money being donated. Banking laws prohibit the transfer of funds to Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization.

Being in Gaza this week, I saw the store shelves pretty much empty, as I am told even the shopkeepers don't have enough money to buy supplies. At some point, despite support for Hamas and democratic elections, there could be some type of protest because of the financial crisis.

One woman who works for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza City as an administrator said many of her colleagues are not coming to work because they cannot even afford the transportation costs. Combined with the constant shelling — which is fierce, loud and frightening — Gaza is an especially horrific place to live right now.

Ironically, many secular Palestinians worry about Israel forcing the collapse of Hamas.

As one secular Palestinian businessman in Ramallah who did not vote for Hamas but still supports it because it was democratically elected, told me the larger fear is that Hamas will be pushed back to what it's known for and does best — suicide bombings. Hamas hasn't directly participated suicide bombings for over a year.

The message? Hamas is slowly being strangled.

Its collapse, not if it comes but when, will surely tear the Palestinians apart.

Here's for a Palestinian civil war. Guns, anyone?