The dispute stems from the recent firing of the hospital's director and its longtime public relations officer because, the doctors say, they supported Fatah.

"They told me that if I stayed a bullet might enter my head," said Jumah al-Saqa, 49, the former spokesman, who was removed from his office by Hamas gunmen last month after two decades in the post. "They want Hamas in all those jobs."

Reports such as those should put an end to illusions that the Hamas government is "democratic."

The West Bank government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is hoping to build on the unpopularity of the Hamas to one day recapture control of Gaza. But an Israeli invasion of Gaza would unite all Palestinians behind the Hamas government, and Hamas would then be able to claim the glory of martyrdom and leading "resistance" against an actual Israeli enemy. Therefore Fatah wants Israel to hold back in Gaza.

In fact, there is practically no realistic scenario in which an Israeli military operation in Gaza could really solve the problem of terror from the Gaza strip, unless it was followed by a diplomatic solution. And it is not realistic to believe that Gazans will accept a Palestinian government that is imposed by Israeli bayonets.

Israel has adopted a compromise solution of small scale raids which don't relieve the Qassam fire, and at the same time help the Hamas preserve their legitimacy, in the eyes of the Palestinians, of fighting the Israelis and maintain a modicum of unity in Gaza under the guise of "fighting the occupation." Israel has also declared Gaza to be an enemy entity, threatening to cut off electricity and fuel. This policy, however, has met with opposition from the UN.. With due respect for the humanitarian concerns of the UN, they do not offer an alternative solution. If the U.N. is concerned for the welfare of the people of Gaza, it can show its concern by taking over the administration of Gaza, eliminating the government of oozlebarts, and making it possible for both Israelis and the inhabitants of Gaza to lead normal and peaceful lives.

The position of the UN is that the rocket fire is due to "desperation" and would not be attenuated by further economic sanctions:

It is difficult to see how this is in anyone's interest, not Israel's, and not the people in Gaza's. There is already a dire humanitarian situation there and this will only add to the sense of isolation and
desperation. We all know that desperation in this situation drives people further toward extremism," said Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the United Nation's Relief and Works Agency.

In fact however, Gazans blame the Hamas for the economic situation:

"We blame Hamas, the reason for all of this," said Hamdi Badr, 49, who two months ago shut down the clothing factory his family has owned since 1969. "But we don't really know what to do."

That is very strange. When war and economic privation made the Russian people desperate in 1917, they knew exactly what to do. The Palestinians voted the Hamas into office, and the Palestinians can remove the Hamas from office.

Ami Isseroff