1. PFLP SET TO JOIN PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT…While Fatah and Islamic Jihad have so far said no to joining a Hamas-led Palestinian government, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has indicated it is interested in participating. The meeting with the PFLP leadership was one of several being hosted this week by Hamas leaders as they try to form the new Palestinian government. The PFLP is understood to be demanding the release of two of its top officials, currently being held in a Palestinian jail in connection with the murder of Israel’s then tourism minister Rehav’am Zeevi. Palestinian leader Mahmoud ‘Abbas will formally ask on Tuesday that Hamas try to coalesce a cabinet over the next two weeks. At the same time, ‘Abbas, a Fatah leader, informed Hamas his movement will not be joining for the time being. Islamic Jihad is promising to support Hamas’ anti-Israel policies from outside the political arena.
2. ISRAEL: WEAPONS FIND IN BETHLEHEM…Israel says it has discovered eight mortars and launchers ready for firing in Bethlehem, a Palestinian city just to the south of Jerusalem. Israeli intelligence sources believe the weapons were intended for firing on the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem. Israel says the mortars, together with rifles had been amassed by the Tanzim wing of Fatah. The valley between Gilo and the Beit Jala district of Bethlehem was the scene of crossfire for months during the height of the violence between 2000 and 2004.
3. MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SEEKS HAMAS FUNDING…The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood is launching a charity drive on behalf of the Hamas-led Palestinian government, a spokesman for the movement told reporters. The organization, which is the main opposition force in Egypt, is urging the Arab League to head a collective effort, opening bank accounts around the Middle East for members of the public to donate to the Palestinians. The brotherhood believes a mix of national and private contributions could bring $2 billion into the Palestinian coffers.
4. SOMALI WARLORDS UNITE AGAINST ISLAMISTS…Dozens of people are reported killed or wounded with many more families displaced in fighting that has broken out since the weekend in the northeast African state Somalia. The exact details are unclear, but eyewitnesses in Mogadishu say warlords loyal to the regional militia head attacked other armed groups that guard Islamic establishments. Some in Somalia say the warlords are angered by the efforts of Islamic courts to increase their influence over the war-torn country.