The distinction between Palestinian—ruled areas and a state of nature continues to blur. When terror and intimidation are embraced as legitimate tools, what else can one expect? The latest evidence comes from the BBC:

Palestinian gunmen have stormed the Palestinian prime minister's office in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

The new prime minister, Hamas' Ismail Haniya, was not in the office — he is based in Gaza.

The men from the militant al—Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades left the building soon afterwards.

About 20 gunmen are reported to have forced their way into the building, which also houses the offices of the rest of the Palestinian cabinet.

So what were the stakes that drove the poor unfortuante Palestinians to take up arms? We have been endlessly instructed that desperate people are driven to armed force by inhumane teatment.

BBC Jerusalem correspondent Jon Leyne says there has been continued tension between the different Palestinian factions, often over issues as mundane as the distribution of jobs and other benefits.

Hat tip: Joe Crowley

Thomas Lifson   4 14 06