Gunmen rally at Palestinian PM's home, demand jobs

[Behind the Aegis]

JERICHO, West Bank (Reuters) - Dozens of Palestinian gunmen fired in the air as they rallied outside the West Bank holiday home of Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie on Wednesday to demand jobs in the security forces, witnesses said.
Qurie was not in his Jericho villa and the gunmen, most of them members of the dominant Palestinian faction Fatah who took refuge in the desert city from Israeli forces during 4 1/2 years of fighting, left after occupying the courtyard for an hour.

But the show of force reflected tensions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip as the Palestinian Authority tries to restore the rule of law by reining in unruly armed factions in the hope of moving toward peace talks with Israel.

Militant sources in Jericho said 14 gunmen were arrested by police. The Palestinian Authority did not immediately comment. Israel plans to withdraw from Gaza in August, making the coastal strip a test case for Palestinian nation-building. The Palestinians, who also want the West Bank for a state, have pledged an orderly handover of power in Gaza.

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Charming. I knew I was going about my job search all wrong...resumes are "so last century."

[Lithos]

1. What would you do?

I would give them a job, albeit out of the way and with no guns. Rather they make a few dollars doing something than have idle time causing trouble.

L-

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Sounds good to me

I am all for giving them jobs in exchange for their weapons. But, walking in with guns demanding a job is not really the way to go. It is just using terrorism on their own people.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. I don't think you should expect them to act like it's the US or somewhere.

For the record, I totally support swapping jobs for weapons if that's what it takes. In a country like yrs and mine, people waving guns around isn't really acceptable except in the wet dreams of the NRA, but we're not living somewhere that's under occupation where there has been violent resistance. Right now guns are a part of life there and it's probably not going to change overnight. Back when the election was on there was a photo of the outside of a polling booth with a sign telling people to leave their weapons outside when they voted....

Violet...

[Colorado Blue]

4. I think they are doing that - guns for jobs as security guards

and police.

But, maybe they don't need so many police?

What happened to all that money? It sure would come in handy right about now, some Public Works Projects.

We should send Mayor Daley:)

Here, they tear up the streets, fix the streets, tear up the streets, fix the streets...

And, we don't have armed gunmen shooting up city hall, at least not TOO often:)