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Source: http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=218358
Handing Victory to Hamas
(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - The Palestinian reconciliation deal is a victory for Hamas, handed to it by the two parties that until recently made tremendous efforts to delegitimize and undermine it: Fatah and Egypt. The deal came amid signs that Hamas was beginning to lose its grip. Last month, thousands of Palestinian demonstrators clashed with Hamas security forces for the first time since it seized control over Gaza in 2007. The unity deal does not require Hamas to relinquish control over Gaza and permits it to keep its security forces. Nor does the deal require Hamas to accept the Middle East peace process or accept the two-state solution. Hamas will be brought into the unity government as an equal partner, and has been recognized as a legitimate partner and player not only by Fatah, but also by the most populous Arab country, Egypt.