AP: Everything Just Dandy in Gaza

Or so the AP would have you believe. This is the top story on Yahoo at the moment:

RAFAH TERMINAL, Gaza Strip - It was a smooth debut Saturday for the first Palestinian-run border. Hundreds of travelers zipped through passport control without having to submit to Israeli security checks, savoring their new freedom after 38 years of military occupation.

They just "zipped"! Such a cheerful story!

Jihad Zanoun, 30, a government employee, was the first to cross. "It is the beginning of a new era that will open a new horizon for me," said Zanoun, who was visiting relatives in Egypt.

A "new horizon!" And others are "extremely happy"!

"We are extremely happy," said Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana. "It has gone very smoothly."

In related developments mentioned in this story, jailed murderer Marwan Barghouti did very well in Fatah primaries. In another AP story (flagged by Jihad Watch) we learn that someone called "Hitler" also did well:

Two fugitives from Fatah's violent offshoot, the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, also secured high positions. The Jenin winner, Jamal Abu Rob, who gave himself the nickname "Hitler," is wanted for killing several suspected informers with Israel.

IRIS blog points out:

He should not be confused with any of the at least 25 other "Hitlers" or "Abu Hitlers" in the PLO, such as one of the leaders of the elite Palestinian "Force 17" bodyguard unit, or his son "Hitler" (his official given name).