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Source: http://jcpa.org/international-courtship-of-hamas-shows-that-terror-pays/
International Courtship of Hamas Shows that Terror Pays
(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi - Hamas has the same ideological outlook as the Islamic State; it, too, aims for the creation of a global Islamic caliphate. Hamas, however, espouses a phased approach that leaves room for diplomatic activity. The fear of Hamas' military option, its leader Khaled Mashal believes, spurs international actors to court Hamas and try to bring it into a dialogue process that will restrain it. The Hamas leadership is pleased with the talks with international emissaries, most recently former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Hamas, assured that the path of terror and violence pays off diplomatically, is raising the bar of its demands in return for a truce in Gaza, while continuing to fight Israel in the West Bank. The writer, a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center, is a co-founder of the Orient Research Group Ltd.