Hamas, Fatah in Stalemate in West Bank

Fatah is getting into deeper and deeper trouble as it becomes perceived as the "violent" and disordered group - even in the West Bank - whereas Hamas becomes perceived as responsible. Fatah's electoral popularity is also in question. And Abu Mazin's poipularity has slumped. Fatah reform becomes ever more urgent if Fatah is not to destroy itself. For an interesting article see this AP item sent in by Rafi Dajani of ATFP

Hamas, Fatah in Stalemate in West Bank - By BEN HUBBARD, Associated Press Writer - Monday, July 23, 2007
When the Nablus City Council met for the first time after Gaza's violent takeover by Hamas, the only thing its members from rivals Hamas and Fatah didn't haggle over was ordering kunafa, the sticky pastry their city is famous for.
The heated five-hour session reflected an uneasy new stalemate in the West Bank since the fall of Gaza to Hamas. Fatah is pushing hard to restrict Hamas' influence, but the Islamists, who have won control of several key towns in local elections since 2005, are too deeply rooted in Palestinian society to be sidelined easily.

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