A slender change in Gaza

There is evidently a long way to go before the deal on a separate Palestinian homeland is sealed. But has the process begun in earnest? Amidst the celebratory chants of the Palestinians following their take-over of the strip there is an unmistakable undercurrent of tension raring to surface between President Mahmud Abbas' Fatah faction and the Hamas. At the same time, Ariel Sharon, the architect of the historic but limited pull-out, finds himself in an unenviable position of having to face open political challenge from Netanyahu feeling somewhat reincarnated from the withdrawal controversy.

There are other strains also as indicated by the idiom the parties concerned are using. The diatribe remains strident between Fatah and Hamas on the one hand and between Sharon and Netanyahu on the other. For instance, Hamas is seeking to project the partial Israeli withdrawal as the outcome of its five-year campaign of resistance against Tel Aviv. And, it vows now to continue with its armed struggle till the liberation of Arab lands is achieved comprehensively. The Islamic Jihad has an aggressive front as well. On the other hand, Fatah chief Abbas, as the successor of Yasser Arafat, likes to attribute the vacation of Gaza strip by Israel to his policy of moderation and eschewal of the path of violence.

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The Palestinians have their second round of parliamentary elections due on January 25. Hamas, which had boycotted the previously-held parliamentary polls is set to take part in the upcoming elections having been emboldened by its strong showing in the municipal polls. So, the upcoming general election promises to be a real test of strength between Hamas and Fatah factions. Which way it goes will determine the future course of Palestinian actions.

The world would like to believe that the new development offers a chance for peace that both sides should seize and make the fullest use of.