Desire for Revenge Still Strong in Gaza

Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert, left, gestures next to Britain's Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett during their meeting in his Jerusalem Office, Wednesday Feb. 7, 2007. Beckett is in Israel and the Palestinian Authority on a two-day official visit. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) (Sebastian Scheiner - AP)

The shooting triggered three days of clashes between the Hamas men on the roof and members of the Bakr clan, most allied with Fatah. The 3,500-strong Bakr clan lives in several blocks near the high-rise, and during the fighting set up makeshift roadblocks at the entrances to neighborhood alleys to control traffic.

Khamis Bakr, the local Fatah leader, said Saturday that despite the Mecca truce, the clan will not rest until justice is done.

"We are happy with the agreement," Bakr said. "We hope that our son will be the last victim. But the family still wants the blood of Mohammed to be avenged. Hamas has to hand over the killers, either to the family or to a court."

With Gaza's judiciary barely functioning, it is unlikely any of those involved in killings would be brought before a court. Factions would also balk at handing over their fighters, particularly since it would be almost impossible to determine who did what in the chaotic battles.

Another option is to pay compensation to the bereaved families, in line with Islamic law. In Gaza, the going rate per victim is $47,000. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said in a speech last month that the families of victims could be compensated.

Bakr declined to say what steps he might take to avenge his nephew's death.

Leaders from Hamas, Fatah and smaller factions acknowledged Saturday that clan revenge for dozens of victims could easily bring down the Mecca agreement.

"Hamas and Fatah have agreed to halt their fire, and that's a beginning, but now they must hurry" to quell possible revenge acts, said Khaled Batch, a leader of the small Islamic Jihad group not involved in the fighting. Islamic Jihad said it has already settled eight family claims involving killings.

Abbas on Friday announced the formation of a reconciliation committee to address unsettled scores. "It is important to deal with the families," said Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, a Fatah spokesman. Both Abu Khoussa and Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan said they were confident the two factions can keep their supporters in line.

In coming days, Abbas and Haniyeh are to move quickly to form a coalition government. Under the deal, Hamas gets nine Cabinet seats, Fatah gets six, independents are given five portfolios and small factions get four. Haniyeh remains prime minister.

However, the deal could fall apart if Israel and the international community refuse to lift the aid boycott, citing Hamas' failure to reform.

Olmert said Sunday his government had "urgent consultations" over the weekend, but had not yet decided how to respond to the Palestinian deal.

"We, like the international community, are studying what exactly was achieved, what was said, and what is the basis on which the agreement rests, if it exists, and if it's complete," Olmert said before his weekly Cabinet meeting.

After countless broken cease-fires, skepticism in the Palestinians territories remains strong.

"There is a lot of mistrust," said Bakr, the local Fatah chief. "If it (the Mecca deal) lasts for six months, it is a good agreement."

____

Associated Press writer Diaa Hadid contributed to this report.