Voices: Palestinian factions - Adli

Q: How has the Fatah-Hamas rivalry affected your everyday life?

A: In daylight people can move about with no problems.

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Name: Adli Daas
Age: 50s
Lives: Nablus
Works: Academic

For example, my two sons attend their clinics from 8am to 6pm.

After 6pm, it's completely closed downtown, although some restaurants and pharmacies stay open until 2300 in other parts of the town.

Q: Who is in control of the streets?

A: Nablus is the largest city in the West Bank. Generally, it's controlled by Fatah, although Hamas has influence with a few local officials and some schools.

Fatah militants occasionally roam through the streets of Nablus, firing randomly into the air, just for show. Hamas rarely does that.

Q: How do people feel about the latest casualties being caused by Palestinian factional violence?

A: The deteriorating situation is not only caused by the conflict between Hamas and Fatah, but also by the occupation.

People rarely move around after 11:00 PM, because they are used to nightly Israeli incursions.

Two weeks ago, I was driving home at midnight after visiting a relative, when an Israeli soldier leapt out in front of my car, pointing his rifle at me.

He approached and said: "Are you afraid? It's just an exercise."

Nablus residents mock the militants because they disappear whenever there's an Israeli incursion.

People are indignant about the lack of security; everyone is vulnerable.

They hold President Abbas responsible, because all the security apparatuses are under his control.

Believe me, the vast majority of residents are against the militants.

Q: What do you think of the call for early elections by the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas?

A: Palestinians are suspicious of Abbas' call for early elections. It's very risky.

They believe he will make major concessions on the Palestinian cause and get nothing in return. Abbas was a major figure behind the Oslo accords.

It is my belief there will be no polls. The place could erupt if there are new elections.

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