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Source: http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4286/abbas-hamas-unity-goal
What Is Abbas Trying to Achieve?
(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - PA President Mahmoud Abbas has once again surprised Israel and the U.S. by signing a "reconciliation" agreement with Hamas. Yet there are no indications whatsoever that, as a result of the rapprochement with Fatah, Hamas is about to change its ideology or abandon terrorism. Hamas leaders and spokesmen have made it clear that the "reconciliation" agreement does not mean that Hamas will abandon the path of terrorism to achieve its goals. "Palestinian resistance remains the right option," said Ra'fat Murra, a Hamas official in Lebanon. Abbas is convinced that it is only a matter of time before Secretary of State Kerry or top U.S. diplomats rush to Ramallah to try to persuade him not to make peace with Hamas. Abbas seems to be enjoying that each time he does something dramatic, the U.S. Administration launches another big diplomatic offensive to convince him to backtrack. Abbas wants his people and the Arabs to see him as a hero who can stand up to the Americans. He is now waiting to see what the U.S. will offer him in return for rescinding his plan to join forces with Hamas.