Israel Matzav

The Hamas-dominated Palestinian Legislative Council was forced to postpone a session scheduled for Saturday in Ramallah after Fatah gunmen threatened to storm the building and beat the newly-appointed speaker, Aziz Dweik.

A new session has been set for Monday, but sources close to Hamas said it too could be delayed because of increased threats by Fatah gunmen.

On Thursday some 20 gunmen belonging to Fatah's armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, arrived at the PLC compound and fired extensively into the air. The gunmen shouted slogans against Dweik, accusing him of trying to dismiss some Fatah- affiliated employees of the council. [That's it! This is all about... jobs! CiJ]

It was the second time since the new parliament was sworn in two weeks ago that Fatah gunmen had threatened to harm Dweik, who was appointed by Hamas.

Tensions inside the council have been mounting ever since Dweik decided to freeze his predecessor's decision to appoint and promote several PLC employees just after Hamas won the January 25 parliamentary election.

One of those affected by Dweik's decision is Ibrahim Khraisheh, who was appointed secretary-general of the PLC only days before the new parliament was sworn in. Khraisheh's appointment to the top job is seen by Hamas as an attempt by Fatah to maintain its control on the council.

Khraisheh complained last week that the PLC speaker and his aides used force to evict him from his office. Khraisheh's supporters later organized a demonstration in front of the council together with scores of Fatah gunmen and demanded the resignation of Dweik.