(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Yoni Ben Menachem - Hamas is not allowing bureaucrats from the Palestinian Authority to enter Gaza for work on the Palestinian side of the crossings. The ongoing split between Fatah and Hamas will undoubtedly hinder Gaza's recovery after this summer's war. The recent donor conference in Cairo pledged to provide $5.4 billion for Gaza's rehabilitation on the basis of the Palestinian unity government headed by Rami Hamdallah. However, the tension between Fatah and Hamas and between Hamas and Egypt has prevented resumption of the Cairo talks between an Israeli delegation and a single, unified Palestinian delegation under Egyptian patronage. While the PA believes Hamas now lacks the military capacity to resume the war against Israel, Hamas has been intensifying its incitement of the residents of Jerusalem and the West Bank. The aim is to stoke a "Third Intifada" against Israel that would also serve Hamas' goal of undermining the stability of the PA. The writer is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center and former Director General and Chief Editor of the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
2014-11-26 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive