Palestinian Authority human rights groups are reporting that both the PA government in Judea and Samaria as well as the Hamas government in Gaza inflict abuse on one another, as each side clamps down on its opponents and critics.
An AP report suggested that the rivalry between the governments could prevent the formation of a Palestinian state, even if direct peace talks with Israel scheduled to begin this Thursday succeed.
According to rights groups quoted in the report, both governments carry out arbitrary arrests, ban rivals from travel, exclude them from civil service jobs and suppress opposition media, the rights groups say. Governments in both Judea and Samaria and in Gaza use torture against opponents, which includes beatings and tying up detainees in painful positions.
Despite the claims by PA President Abbas’ government that it only targets militants who pose a security threat, last week security forces in Judea and Samaria broke up a meeting of independents who are opposed to Abbas’ decision to resume peace talks with Israel.
Members of the PA General Intelligence Service reportedly also assaulted two field workers from Palestinian rights group Al-Haq as they documented the quashing of a rally protesting the return to peace talks, reported the Maan News Agency.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemned the attack on the Al-Haq members, saying that "it is important that the Palestinian security forces respect the work of human rights organizations and to ensure protection to their personnel in all circumstances," and adding that PCHR "points with concern to the recurrence of attacks on the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful assembly. PCHR stresses that these two rights are guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and by international human rights instruments.
According to reports, PA forces also attacked a local television crew at the same rally. The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemned the attack on the television crew
Meanwhile in Gaza, Hamas is pushing legislation that is seen as an attempt to take over the Independent Palestinian Commission for Human Rights.
Another example is of 21 year-old Gaza resident Assad Saftawi, who has been thrown in detention four times after he wrote an article criticizing Hamas for taxing cigarettes. Also in Gaza, a heart patient who is also a Fatah official said that Hamas prevented him from leaving Gaza for a medical checkup in Jordan, even after he obtained Israeli permission to leave Gaza for the checkup.
Shahwan Jabareen of Al-Haq told AP that in both areas "we are going toward a … regime in which the security forces intervene in everything."
AP explained that the reasoning for Abbas’ crackdown on his opponents stems from his fears of a Hamas takeover of Judea and Samaria as well as his need to keep militants in check to maintain international support. Hamas, meanwhile, is targeting independents and civil groups which provide a key alternative voice in the territory.
While the upcoming direct talks will be aimed at creating a Palestinian state, the AP report said that "it appears unlikely any deal could be implemented as long as the split persists, particularly if Hamas — shunned by Israel and the West as a terror organization — remains in charge in Gaza."