By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA, Jan 14 (Reuters) - An unprecedented bout of internal fighting between the two major Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, is fanning fears among Palestinians that their dream of an independent state is further away than ever. At least 30 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since moderate President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah called for fresh elections last month, raising the stakes in his bitter power struggle with the governing Hamas Islamists. Some Palestinians fear the fighting could lead to civil war. The peace process with Israel was already moribund, even before the militant movement Hamas trounced Fatah in elections a year ago. Peace negotiations collapsed in 2000. "Maybe the dream of a state was already difficult, but with Hamas and Fatah fighting one another, a state has become impossible," said Gaza taxi driver Khaled Hassan, 40. "The world is not going to listen to us if we are not listening to one another." At a news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday, Abbas said he wanted a Palestinian state at the earliest date possible. Rice vowed to deepen U.S. involvement in the process. But Palestinian infighting in the past year has been a major obstacle to resuming peace talks with Israel. Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas have failed to agree a common political agenda, especially over Israel, providing the trigger for much of the tension. Israel refuses to deal with Hamas, which formally seeks the destruction of the Jewish state. Moderate Palestinians also accuse Israel of ignoring pleas from Abbas to restart talks. Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have held just one formal meeting. Abu Ahmed, 60, said he could not recall such political violence among Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and urged Fatah and Hamas to resolve their differences before it was too late. "Either they stop the fight or risk the whole temple coming down on their heads and those of the people," the retired agricultural labourer said. "The world has been hesitant and unwilling to give us our right to a state. Now they are under no pressure to do so." Senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat, who has negotiated with Israel for years for an independent state, said internal violence was the biggest threat. "I think the internal strife is the most dangerous situation ... it could undermine everything, including the Palestinian dream of statehood," Erekat told Reuters. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the movement acknowledged the concerns of Palestinians over statehood but said calm would soon be restored. He accused parties such as the United States of stirring up the internal conflict by backing one side against the other. The United States wants Abbas to emerge victorious in his showdown with Hamas, which Washington labels as a terrorist entity. The United States plans to pour $86 million into helping train and equip Abbas's presidential guard. Hamas receives aid from Iran and other Islamist allies, and is building up its own "executive force". "The American policy is based on besieging the Palestinian people, not respecting democracy and preventing the formation of a full sovereign, independent Palestinian state," Barhoum said.
