Playing with fire

Rana Sabbagh has an important article in Al Arab Al Yawm today, where she describes the resurgence of the Fateh movement in the Beqa'a refugee camp. The article tracks how, under government auspices, the movement is regaining control of bodies such as the camp athletic club, which had been controlled by Hamas. According the Sabbagh, the government is worried about the growing influence of Hamas and its Islamist allies, and thus is quietly encouraging the return of Fateh to open activity.

So, the government encouraged the growth of Hamas in the past, to stem the influence of Fateh and the leftist Palestinian movements, and now is using Fateh to stem Hamas and the Islamists. Remembering the lessons of the past, it would seem shortsighted to simply look at these movements as pawns to be played against each other. Both Hamas and Fateh are Palestinian organizations, with agendas that may at certain junctures be compatible with those of the government. However, when these agendas start to diverge, problems start and new rounds of damage control need to be implemented. Reasons against considering the tactic of using Fateh to stop Hamas can be listed as follows:

1. Internal consistency. Hamas' leaders were kicked out of Jordan for interfering in the county's internal affairs. Politicians working in Jordan need to have Jordanian agendas, no matter what their affilation.
2. National unity. The concept that Jordanians of Palestinian origin should have exclusive parties is divisive and dangerous. Strong nationalist secular parties should encourage all Jordanians to work together. The scenes described by Omar during the student elections are saddening, and reflect deep problems that should be worked out.
3. National security. The political divisions in Palestine have the potential of developing into a civil war. We should do our best to stay out, instead of inviting the parties to spread their activities here.
4. Minding our own business. Palestinians need to work out their problems for themselves. Taking sides will only create more enemies in the long term.

Both Hamas and Fateh have bitten the hands that fed them in Jordan in the past. Both their activities should be restricted, and those parties which view Jordan, with all of her components, as being their central concern should be encouraged to fill the gap. It would be sad if we keep repeating the same mistake.