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Source: http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000587879&fid=1724
How the PA and Hamas View Peace Talks
(Globes) Boaz Ganor - From the point of view of the heads of the Palestinian Authority, holding direct negotiations with Israel is an obstacle to their strategy. Until now, they have been working to achieve their strategic goals without being asked to pay any price to Israel, without signing any agreements, without recognizing Israel's right to exist, and without renouncing "the right of return," etc. Any significant progress in the direct negotiations with Israel will necessarily result in sharp criticism within the Palestinian arena and their position will be weakened. The Hamas leadership is examining Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's activities in building the infrastructure for a Palestinian state and is preparing its forces in the West Bank for the time when they will take on Fatah and win, and will pluck the infrastructure already prepared by the PA, like a ripe fruit. However, if the process that started in Washington appears to be bearing fruit, then the Hamas leadership will renew the waves of suicide attacks inside Israel. Dr. Boaz Ganor is the founder and executive director of the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya.