Palestinian vigilante killings on the rise

[Behind the Aegis]

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The number of Palestinians slain in vigilante killings and other internal violence has nearly quadrupled in four years, from 43 in 2002 to 151 so far in 2005, according to statistics presented Thursday.

A top security official said more Palestinians were killed in internal violence this year than by Israeli troops.

The descent into lawlessness is hurting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas politically at a time when he is trying to beat back a tough challenge by Islamic militant rivals. This week, a Palestinian parliament frustrated with armed gangs and corrupt police officers ordered Abbas to disband his Cabinet and make crime-fighting his top priority.

"The security situation is deteriorating in a very dangerous way, with no one putting a stop to it," said Hassan Khreisheh, the deputy parliament speaker.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Palestinians%20Fatal%20Feuds

[barb162]

1. quadrupling in 4 yrs.

[pelsar]

2. shhh...

its an internal matter nobodies business.....

last study i ready said people have a preference for personal security over "intagable freedoms ( i think it was in the atlantic monthly...)...no surprise there.

which means for those who can remember pre intifada I.....where the occupation still existed without roadblocks, etc the palestenians had personal security.

though the occupation was morally wrong, seems to me the palestenians, egged on by "others" certainly took the wrong track...the result is a society that has corruption and violence as two basic values....with the hamas threatening a theorcary in gaza

i would guess all those who care about civil rights etc..would probably suggest to sharon and other intl groups to stop feeding the PA, suggest some sort of armed intl presence in Gaza to restore security to the citizens....and attempt to stabalize their society before it spreads

but i'm just kidding....its really israels fault