Palestinian factions: Arab forces not welcome in the Gaza Strip
3 September 2008 website of Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades - the armed
branch of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
www.alqassam.ps/english/?action=showdetail&fid=1197

The Palestinian resistance factions have steadfastly voiced their rejection
to sending Arab troops into the Gaza Strip on the pretext of ending
Palestinian internecine, asserting that Gaza Strip was calmer than some
cities in Arab countries.
The factions' remarks were apparently made in reaction to the calls uttered
by Egypt's foreign minister Ahmad Abu Ghait who invented the idea and
described it as an "attractive idea that should be seriously taken into
consideration".
Hamas Movement, the biggest faction in the Palestinian arena that also
controls the PA parliament was adamant on rejecting the dispatching of any
foreign or Arab troops into the Gaza Strip, explaining that the Strip was
ruled by an elected Palestinian national government, and enjoys an
unprecedented calm since Hamas controlled it more than a year ago.
"We reject deploying Arab or foreign troops in Gaza Strip under any
circumstances because we have an elected national unity government (ruling
the Strip), and we have an excellent security system implementing the law
properly", asserted Fawzi Barhoum, the spokesman of Hamas Movement in Gaza
Strip in press statements he issued Sunday.
He also explained that the PA security forces in Gaza Strip were serving the
interests of the Palestinian public after they successfully wiped out all
previous forms of violence and security chaos under the defunct
Fatah-controlled security apparatuses 14 months ago.
"If the Arabs were indeed interested in helping the Palestinian people, then
they could send their troops to fight along with the Mujahedeen to liberate
the Aqsa (Mosque), and to protect Jerusalem and the Palestinian lands; yet,
if they were talking about sending Arab security troops to rule the Gaza
Strip, then we strongly reject it because the Strip is ruled by a legitimate
government elected by (the great majority of the) Palestinian people",
Barhoum, furthermore, underlined.
For its part, the Islamic Jihad Movement seconded Hamas's rejection of the
idea, asserting that the proposed Arab troops would be, at the end of the
road, part of the crises and not of the solution.
The Movement also opined that the Arabs should focus their efforts on
restoring the Palestinian national unity, and to support the Palestinian
national dialogue.
"Sending Arab troops in the shadow of the current Palestinian political
division would bring no good to the Palestinian people, and would jeopardize
efforts of achieving national reconciliation", confirmed Khaled Al-Batish,
the senior political figure in the Islamic Jihad.
But he welcomed the Arab troops in Gaza Strip if they intend to end the
Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land, but if they will be brought with
the aim to curb the Palestinian resistance then, he underscored, "those
troops aren't welcome on the Palestinian land".
In the same context, Abu Abeer, the spokesman of the Popular Resistance
Committees (PRC), emphasized that the Gaza Strip has been experiencing an
unprecedented state of calm since Hamas ruled it "even more than some cities
in independent Arab countries".
On the other hand, Fatah faction and the PA leadership in Ramallah were
apparently deviating from the Palestinian mainstream as they welcomed and
supported the idea. Two weeks ago, Nabil Amre, the PA ambassador to Egypt,
pointed out that the idea was still active and that it could be presented as
part of the suggestions to end the Palestinian political rift.
Local observers weren't surprised by Fatah stand on the idea, explaining
that Fatah faction and the PA leadership had been and still are striving to
spoil the calm in the Gaza Strip, and to overthrow the elected Palestinian
government there through "cheap" means including calling for strikes,
carrying out and financing bombings in the Strip, and working to declare
Gaza Strip as "renegade province" among other means.