It's all our fault, really

Hamas and Fatah are one news cycle away from full-scale war, at a time when peace deals have eroded to lasting hours instead of days and the wires are buzzing that Hamas is launching a coup against Mahmoud Abbas. The New York Times story I'm sitting here reading says that militants are tossing handcuffed people off tall buildings, executing and kneecapping people as organized military units deployed. To say the sectarian warfare had reached insanity would be an insult to patients in asylums.

Whose fault is the escalation in violence? Why, our fault, according to a U.N. report obtained by The Guardian. Because we wouldn't financially support a ruling party that engaged in terrorist acts and advocated the destruction of its neighbor and our ally. Never mind the internal elements: a) religious, as Hamas is more fundamentalist and Fatah more secular, b) political, as Abbas' willing to work with Israel has raised Hamas' ire, c) egotistical, as both sides will fight to the death to come out on top regardless of what truces are brokered by hapless leaders. But in the midst of this, we're blamed for not engaging these guys diplomatically. However, for someone to sit down for talks, they have to be interested in the conversation in the first place. Hamas and Fatah are raring to fight, and Hamas will never rest until Israel is no more.

UPDATE: Did I call it? Stayed through deadline, came home, and saw that Hamas just seized Fatah HQ in Gaza, effectively starting the civil war. Must be America's fault.