HAMAS DIVIDED: TIME FOR A NEW POLICY?

AuthorAbrahamson, James L.
PositionBrief article

Although the United States, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia are exerting "significant diplomatic pressure" to bridge the gaps between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the present negotiations may be at an impasse. Even so, Tally Halfont argues that Hamas, an agreement's principal opponent, seems to have become fractured and inconsistent as regards its attitudes toward a possible settlement--a situation that creates hopeful possibilities.

The Damascus-based political leader of Hamas, Khaled Mashal, and Ismail Haniyah, its Gaza-based prime minister presently engage in a power struggle over doctrine, control of the Hamas elements in Gaza and the West Bank, and relations between Hamas and lesser militant groups. The resulting loss of coherence and unity of action may well marginalize the influence of Hamas over any emerging Israeli-Palestinian agreement.

Not only have divisions prevented Hamas from participating with the Palestinian Authority (PA) in a united front vis-a-vis Israel, its alliance with Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, and some...

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