The results of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections of January 25, 2006, came as a shocking surprise for many. Fatah, which had so far dominated the PLC, obtained only 45 seats. The militant group Hamas secured 74 seats out of a total of 132 seats. Thirteen seats went to independent and other candidates.

Militant Hamas, which firmly believed in armed struggle to gain independence from Israeli occupation, suddenly decided to take part in the Legislative elections of January 2006. Arafat's towering personality and intuitive ability to control divergent Palestinian factions disappeared on November 11, 2004.

With no able successor in the Fatah faction, the leadership went to Mahmoud Abbas -- once prime minister under Arafat. Mahmoud Abbas's grip over the political situation slackened due to allegations of massive corruption within the PA, and lack of any progress on the much-hyped up Road Map as enunciated by US President George Bush.

While Israel went on with its targeted missile attacks, the wretched Palestinians became thoroughly disillusioned. Frustration over Fatah's inability to secure any concessions from the Israelis or the US drove common Palestinians towards the stronger Hamas group.

The Western powers, particularly the US and the EU, were quick to impose sanctions on the new PA on the grounds that Hamas was a terrorist organisation. The duplicity of the West came to the fore once again. While they had strongly demanded that the elections be free, fair and transparent, they refused to accept or recognise the Hamas-led PA as the legitimate government of the Palestinians on purely prejudiced political reasoning.

The spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin created Hamas in 1987, during the first Palestinian Intifada (uprising). Sheik Yassin was the leader of the Gaza wing of the famous "Muslim Brotherhood." He was a wheelchair-bound, crippled man with a large following. He was assassinated by the Israelis in March 2004.

Abdul Aziz Rantisi, a capable organiser and an articulate leader, succeeded Sheik Yassin. The Israelis assassinated Rantisi also, in April 2004. Mahmoud al Zahar now leads Hamas, and Ismail Haniyeh is his deputy. Hamas had stated that the Palestinian state could be established only after liquidating the state of Israel through armed struggle.

The January 2006 elections have added to the woes of the Palestinians. It immediately triggered a power struggle between the two main factions -- Fatah and Hamas. The sanctions have compounded their miseries. In an attempt to regain control over the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas refused to swear-in the new Hamas government.

The stalemate accentuated the rivalry between the two factions. The Western powers and Israel supported Abbas in this confrontation. After a two-month long bickering, the Hamas cabinet led by Ismail Haniyeh was approved by the PLC on March 28, 2004. The next day, Mahmoud Abbas had to swear-in Haniyeh as the new prime minister of the PA.

The US-led sanctions imposed on the new PA wreaked havoc amongst the Palestinians. International aid of around $2.8 billion per annum (2001) has literally stopped. By December 2006, unemployment rose from 23 % to 60 %, and two-thirds of the people now live below the poverty line. 160,000 civil service workers have not received their salaries since March 2004.

Gaza, compared to the West Bank, is in a desperate situation. With a total area of 360 sq km, it huddles together 1.4 million people sandwiched between the powerful tanks of Israel to the East and the Mediterranean Sea to the West. It is an open-air prison. Ismail Haniyeh has his back to the wall now, which has led to frequent outbursts of violence against the supporters of Fatah.

Many fear that full-scale civil war in the occupied territories is only a matter of time if the living conditions do not improve. The latest violence erupted on May 12, when Hamas militants attacked the supporters of Abbas, killing two and wounding several others.

To keep a lid on the fratricidal war, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia invited both the factions to Makkah in February this year. The agreement, signed on February 8, stipulated that the two factions would bury the hatchet and form a "Unity" government. But, despite sighs of relief from common Palestinians, the violence did not abate. The latest ceasefire agreement of May19 failed to last, as both sides blamed each other for violations.

Israel, meanwhile, plunged into the chaos to intensify its violent agenda. It has killed several Hamas leaders in Gaza, accusing that they were responsible for launching Qassam rockets into Israel. Israeli tanks have already taken up positions along Gaza's eastern borders.

The US-Israeli strategy is to weaken further the Haniyeh government unless it agrees to:

• Recognise Israel.
• Renounce all kinds of violence.
• Respect past Agreements with Israel (Oslo Accords -1993).

Hamas, so far, has steadfastly held that Israel must recognize the legitimate government, release all Palestinian funds, and come to the negotiating table to discuss peace. If Israel agreed to these conditions, the Hamas government would consider recognising Israel.

Hamas is a Sunni outfit, but draws substantial support from far-off Iran and next-door Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Iranian influence over Hamas has added a new dimension to the Arab-Israeli conflict. It was this worrying element that spurred Saudi Arabia to mediate between the two opposing factions and patch up their differences. But repeated outbreaks of violence between the two have left the Makkah Agreement in tatters.

For the Western powers, the current infighting between Hamas and Fatah is a welcome development. It has given Israel and US valuable time to sweep the Road Map under the carpet. With the two factions at each other's throats, Israel can decimate more Hamas leaders with its guided missiles.

It is a pity that even after 60 years of struggle and immense sacrifices the Palestinians have not been able to secure their homeland. The double standards of the Western powers have laid waste the land of an ancient civilization and three major revealed religions.

Mahmood Hashan is a former Ambassador and Secretary.