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Power Dynamics Inside Hamas: The Increasing Weight of the Gaza Leadership
(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi - The recent overt confrontation between Mahmoud al-Zahar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Gaza, and Damascus-based Hamas political bureau leader Khaled Mashaal reflects underground currents feeding the tension within the Hamas leadership in Gaza and Syria. Al-Zahar is demanding that Hamas-Gaza be given more weight in decision-making, while the Hamas leadership abroad contends that the center of power should remain outside of Palestine. Since the Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005, the Hamas government has gained significant political and economic power that has weakened the dependence of Hamas-Gaza on the Hamas leadership abroad. In addition, Hamas' main military forces are stationed in Gaza. The current main interest of Mashaal and his colleagues is to promote reconciliation with Fatah in order to pave the way for Hamas to join the PLO and take over the organization that is recognized internationally as the sole representative of the Palestinian people.