Saudi King Urges Palestinians to Talk

Palestinians carry the body of Hamas militant Ahmed Saleh, who was killed in clashes with Fatah gunmen in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007. Gunmen loyal to the ruling Hamas government attacked the house of a local Fatah leader Friday exchanging heavy fire, Palestinian sources said. At least 18 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded in factional fighting between the groups in the Gaza Strip since Thursday. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (Hatem Moussa - AP)

Experts expect the pattern to continue. "They are equal parties," analyst Nasser Al Lahham said. "No one can cancel the other out."

Thirty Palestinians, including two children, have died during the latest outburst of street fighting that began Thursday, raising the death toll to more than 60 since last month.

A battle erupted early Monday near the parliament building, where a Hamas fighter was killed, Hamas and hospital officials said.

Fatah gunmen killed a Hamas security force member early Monday and a Hamas activist in Khan Younis on Sunday. Another gunman, whose affiliation was not immediately known, and a 45-year-old civilian were also killed, hospital officials said.

Several kidnappings also were reported in the factional conflict. The most brazen was in the West Bank city of Nablus, where Fatah gunmen walked into a bank and dragged out a local Hamas leader.

Hot spots in the fighting include the headquarters of Abbas' security forces, Hamas-run mosques and the homes and offices of leaders from both sides, where guards hunker down behind concrete barriers and piles of sandbags.

Traffic jams are getting worse by the day in Gaza City's already crowded streets because more and more roads are being closed to motorists by the rival security forces.

Neither side is using all of its firepower because they are giving coalition talks another chance and because they fear risking defeat in an all-out confrontation, said Mouin Rabbani, a Jordan-based analyst for the International Crisis Group, an independent think tank.

Each side can count on thousands of armed men. Most members of Palestinian security forces are loyal to Abbas, while Hamas last year set up its own 5,600-man militia. Each also has a military wing _ Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Hamas' Izzedine Al Qassam Brigades.

Hamas is getting funds from Iran and other Islamic supporters worldwide, while the Bush administration has asked Congress to approve $85 million in aid for Abbas' troops.

Israeli analyst Shlomo Brom, a retired army general, said the U.S. shouldn't count on Abbas being able to defeat Hamas militarily. "That is not going to happen, because Hamas is a political movement that enjoys great support among the Palestinians," he said.

The Gaza muddle will likely continue, Brom added. "The probability of a full-scale war is low, because the two parties understand the consequences and they understand there will be no clear winner."