Mr Abbas has expelled other rivals, such as Muhammad Dahlan, by banning their websites.

ECONOMIST: The Palestinians

PA's two powerful military chiefs, Jibril Rajoub and Muhammad Dahlan, who command the Preventive Security Force (the Palestinians are not allowed an army) in the West Bank and Gaza respectively.

ECONOMIST: After Arafat, one day

Mr Mofaz had rushed back to Israel last weekend, cutting short a European holiday, to try to shore up the ceasefire and put new impetus into the talks with Mr Abbas and his security chief, Muhammad Dahlan.

ECONOMIST: Slaughter of the innocents