An already volatile internal political situation in the occupied Palestinian territories has been further amplified following yesterday’s assassination attempt against FATEH activist and Revolutionary Council Member, Abu Ali Shaheen. Shaheen, a former PA Minister, was attacked in the Gaza city neighbourhood of Al-Rimal immediately following his appearance on a radio show that hosted a live discussion on the formation of a Palestinian national unity Government. Unknown gunmen attacked his car and fired rounds of live ammunition, leaving him with medium injuries in his leg.

Shaheen has been openly critical of the current Hamas-led Palestinian Government, and has often attracted fierce criticism by supporters of the Islamist movement, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Minutes before the attack, the former Minister and prominent FATEH figure had just concluded an appearance on “Voice of Freedom” radio in which he reaffirmed his position that without agreement on the formation of a national unity Government, the current Palestinian crisis will prevail.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, described the attack on Shaheen as “…playing with fire” by elements who are intent on undermining Palestinian national unity. Abbas, who visited Shaheen in hospital this morning, also criticised the ongoing proliferation of illegal arms in the Palestinian territories and voiced his concern regarding the security chaos that has plagued Palestinian society in recent months. He expressed his hope that a possible unity Government may put an end to the deteriorating political and security crisis.

Since Hamas’ rise to power following last January’s Palestinian legislative elections, increased tensions between FATEH and Hamas have paralysed the Palestinian political establishment and even threatened to escalate into direct armed confrontation between the two sides. FATEH, the mainstream secular nationalist political faction formerly led by Yasser Arafat, had dominated Palestinian political life for almost 40 years; Hamas’ victory in parliament, and its control of the executive authority of the PA, has presented a serious challenge to both the sustainability of Palestinian public institutions as well as the prospects of resuming political dialogue with Israel. A US-led diplomatic and economic international boycott of the Palestinian Government has left the Palestinian territories on the brink of collapse, with unemployment rates in the Gaza Strip rising to around 60% since January 2006.