Palestinians fear that the violent conflict between Hamas and Fatah may be renewed soon, in wake Qatar's failure to mediate between the factions. The negotiations on the establishment of a unity government reached a dead end Monday, and Palestinian Authority sources are concerned that a second round of violence is imminent .
Thirteen Palestinians wee killed in the previous outburst of infighting, which swept Gaza and the West Bank.
On Tuesday, Hamas and the government on the one hand, and Fatah and the presidential institutions on the other, continued to exchange accusations regarding the failed Qatari mediation attempt and the responsibility for the standstill in talks.
President Mahmoud Abbas' aides raised the possibility that the president would dissolve the parliament in the coming days, announce an interim government and push forward the elections.
Meanwhile, Hamas officials accused Abbas' associates of sabotaging the negotiations. According to the officials, the stances presented by them during talks with the Qatari foreign minister were more flexible than ever, and it was a group of Abbas' advisors that stood behind the failure in the talks.
However, Fatah sources claimed that Hamas insists not to allow the formation of an interim government, despite calls from within the movement itself – including by Palestinian Parliament chairman, Dr. Aziz Dweik, who is jailed in Israel – to establish a cabinet of professionals in order to help the PA recover from the current political crisis.
Against the backdrop of the failed negotiations, reports are mounting on Hamas' strengthening and of the movement boosting its operations in the West Bank.
At the same time, sources close to Abbas continued to deny reports that the presidential guard has been receiving assistance in training and arms at a special camp run by American instructors.