Palestinian militants fired a rocket into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, confirming fears that violence in the territories may once again spill across the borders.
The missile landed harmlessly in a field, but the incident suggests that the militants who have been involved in recent confrontations with the Palestinian police are now prepared to vent their frustration on Israeli targets.
Earlier on Thursday, a senior member of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Qais Abu Leila, said gunmen are clashing with the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip almost daily, and added: ”There is a very real chance that this could spill over into attacks against Israel.”
He was echoed by the Local Government Minister, Ahmed Ghnaim, who is seen as a representative of the younger Fatah members, including the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.
”There is a feeling of frustration and people are faced with two options, either to carry out acts of frustration against their own society or [to take action] against Israel,” he said.
Last week, about 20 Fatah gunmen opened fire on the Palestinian government headquarters in Ramallah and attacked several restaurants.
The Palestinian police made no attempt to stop them and no one has been arrested.
Violence is rare in Ramallah but widespread in other Palestinian cities. The gunmen, who are all wanted by Israel, said they were angry with the Palestinian Authority for not keeping its promise to guarantee their security in return for declaring a ceasefire.
In Yasser Arafat’s time, gunmen often took refuge in the Palestinian Authority’s headquarters. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority’s president, has made it clear that they are no longer welcome, but some remain.
Since January, there has been one suicide bombing, which killed five, but further breaches of the ceasefire could revive the tit-for-tat violence of last year.
Israel has released some prisoners and allowed Palestinians to take control of security in Jericho and Tulkarem, but has done nothing to impress the Palestinian street.
It has called on Abbas to impose control in Palestinian areas and he has sacked a number of security chiefs, but he is meeting resistance from his own faction and the security services. — Guardian Unlimited Â