Hamas Islamist fighters and looters ransacked the blood-spattered Palestinian presidential compound in Gaza yesterday, rejoicing at the rout of their well-armed, secular rivals from the president's Fatah faction.
With Gaza effectively a new independent entity under Hamas control, Israel and the US were preparing to ease an embargo on the Palestinian Authority to channel funds to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah-run West Bank administration.
Abbas, who decreed a state of emergency on Thursday, was expected to name an emergency government later yesterday.
Ten Fatah security chiefs arrested by Hamas in Gaza and accused of launching a "coup" were given "amnesty" -- a possible sign Hamas leaders want to show restraint and statesmanship.
Despite firing in the air by Hamas fighters, who paraded captured Fatah vehicles and seized weapons, civilians hauled away fridges, satellite dishes, even doors.
"The battle was against those who implemented America's policy," its spokesman said on television.
Forces loyal to Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, the prime minister in the dismissed Palestinian government, seemed in complete control in the Gaza Strip. Fatah holds the larger West Bank.
The Israeli press yesterday screamed alarmist cries of chaos, hell and catastrophe.
"The catastrophic scenario has become reality: Hamas controls Gaza and Fatah the West Bank," the tabloid-style Maariv newspaper said.
Israel's top selling Yediot Aharonot, as well as Israeli public radio, referred to two Palestinian entities from now on -- Hamastan in Gaza and "Fatahland" in the West Bank.
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PLUGGING HOLES: The amendments would bring the legislation in line with systems found in other countries such as Japan and the US, Legislator Chen Kuan-ting said Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) has proposed amending national security legislation amid a spate of espionage cases. Potential gaps in security vetting procedures for personnel with access to sensitive information prompted him to propose the amendments, which would introduce changes to Article 14 of the Classified National Security Information Protection Act (國家機密保護法), Chen said yesterday. The proposal, which aims to enhance interagency vetting procedures and reduce the risk of classified information leaks, would establish a comprehensive security clearance system in Taiwan, he said. The amendment would require character and loyalty checks for civil servants and intelligence personnel prior to
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