Hamas arresting Fatah members, Fatah arresting Hamas members - Democracy, Palestinian-style

From the Jerusalem Post:

On Sunday, Palestinian sources said that PA security forces arrested five men in the West Bank on suspicion of being affiliated with Hamas. One of the detainees, Ameed Shehadeh, is a journalist from Nablus. The sources said he was arrested for criticizing the PA in a Facebook post.

Also in Nablus, the PA security forces arrested Qassam Sabbah, who was recently released from Israeli prison and An-Najah University student Hussam Shtayyeh.

In Hebron, the PA’s Preventive Security Service arrested Muhab al-Juneidi one week after his wedding. In the town of Salfit, Abdullah Abdel Fattah was also arrested by the PA security forces.

Last week, the PA security forces arrested Nablus lawyer Awni al-Sharif on charges of “insulting” the Palestinian leadership on social media platforms.

According to the sources, the latest arrests are in the context of the PA’s ongoing crackdown on its political rivals in the West Bank, including those suspected of being affiliated with Hamas.

Democracy!

Meanwhile, on the Gaza side:

 Last week, Palestinian officials in Ramallah ... said that three senior Fatah activists – Ahmad Naji, Mustafa al-Shannat and Shukri Abu al-Hosseen – were summoned for interrogation by Hamas’ Internal Security Force.

Democracy!

And, as I reported exclusively on Saturday night, Fatah Revolutionary Council members reportedly threatened to kill anyone who runs for office outside the official Fatah slate. Human rights activists criticized the report, saying it violates Palestinian basic laws. 

Democracy!

People are still talking as if the planned Palestinian parliamentary elections will occur in May and the presidential elections in July. 

I'd love to see the London bookmakers odds on either of those happening. Personally, I'd say the odds are 10-1 against for the parliamentary elections and 50-1 against for the presidential elections. 

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