Following Hamas’ takeover of Gaza in June 2007, a political split has been created between a Hamastan in Gaza and a West Bank Fatah-land. This division may reach a point of no return, when in January 09′ all three branches of the Palestinian political system may be officially split.
The establishment of an emergency government in Ramallah soon after Hamas took over Gaza, marked the spilt of the Palestinian Executive Branch between two acting governments.
Hamas’ gradual takeover of the legal system (which reached its peak in November 07), as well as its inauguration of a process to draft a new penal code based on Shari’a law, marked the spilt of the Palestinian’s Judicial Branch.
Meanwhile Abu-Mazen’s intention to hold elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council in January 09′ – which Hamas rejects – may mark a split in the Legislative Branch, thus accomplishing a split in all three branches of the Palestinian political system.
This existence of two Palestinian de-facto states – different in character, ideology and political system – requires a re-evaluation of policy.
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yotamhacohen
Although there is a major split between the W.Bank and Gaza, and Fatah and Hamas, the new legislation Hamas is pushing through parliament in Gaza is still needing to be signed off by Mahmoud Abbas, for he is still, for the time being, the President of the Palestinian people. No doubt, the legislation will not be passed on however until the end of January when he is to step down anyway and even if not then Hamas will likely pass over him anyway as the non-recognised President.
What is interesting to note is that Hamas’s new proposed legislation according to Sharia law to punish severely those that steal, murder etc… and the death penalty for those who collaborate with Israel serves all of their political aims very nicely. This is not so much islamic law for the Palestinians but a reinforcement of the united front in the struggle against Israel. Of course Hamas is a Radical Islamic organisation but one cannot help but feel these new laws are not so much concerned with religous matters but rather political ones.