Hamas and PLO/Fatah clash at the border

First, Israel's defense minister, Amir Peretz, ordered that the Rafah crossing be closed in order to prevent Hamas' dictator, Ismail Haniyeh, from returning with money for bloodletting:

GAZA CITY (AFP) - Israel has closed the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt to prevent Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya from bringing in "tens of millions of dollars," sparking a storming of the terminal by armed supporters of the ruling Islamists.

"Defense Minister Amir Peretz ordered the closing of the Rafah crossing in order to prevent tens of millions of dollars from entering Gaza together with Haniya," an Israeli security source said on condition of anonymity Thursday.

"Peretz made the decision and instructed the closing of the crossing in coordination with all the relevant bodies," he said.

The closure sparked a storming of the border terminal by dozens of armed Hamas supporters, who forced their way inside, witnesses said.

Haniya was due to return to Gaza on Thursday after cutting short his first trip abroad as premier to deal with mounting tensions in the territory between Hamas and the secular Fatah faction of president Mahmud Abbas.

Oops, what's that? The man is Muslim himself, ditto many of his gang, and they call him secular? Sorry, but I think that calling them "secular" is avoiding some hard questions. That's typical of the AFP.

Now, the Hamas takes out its anger on the PLO by clashing with them:

RAFAH, Gaza Strip - Hamas militants, angry that Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh was prevented from returning to Gaza from Egypt, burst into the Rafah crossing Thursday, sparking a gunbattle with the guards at the border terminal.

Two Hamas militants were wounded.

The militants had been waiting outside the terminal and grew impatient for Haniyeh's return, finally breaking into the compound and shooting in the air. The Palestinian Presidential Guard, responsible for security at the terminal, began firing at them, according to an Associated Press reporter at the terminal.

Travelers in the terminal lobby ran for cover, some carrying their luggage. Women and children hid behind walls and nearby taxis outside.

The violence came after Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz ordered Rafah sealed to prevent Haniyeh from returning with tens of millions of dollars in cash.

All the same, Peretz is not a worthy defense minister, and having found that he's now got increasing problems with his own party, who are calling for new primaries to compete against him. If he loses leadership, he will deserve it.