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Arab Rivalries Delaying Cease-Fire

[Jerusalem Post ] Khaled Abu Toameh - The ongoing power struggle between Fatah and Hamas, as well as rivalries within Hamas itself, are largely responsible for the delay in reaching a cease-fire agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. Fatah is afraid that a cease-fire would consolidate Hamas' grip on Gaza and encourage Hamas to try to extend its control to the West Bank. Within Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh has been pushing for accepting the Israeli conditions, first and foremost that abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit be part of a cease-fire deal. Other Hamas leaders, however, including Khaled Mashaal, Mahmoud Zahar and Said Siam, continue to insist that Shalit be dealt with only after a truce goes into effect. Furthermore, Islamic Jihad, Fatah's Aksa Martyrs Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees continue to express reservations about the Egyptian plan. "Even if Hamas accepts the truce plan, there is no guarantee that it would be able to enforce its will on the other groups operating in Gaza," said a Palestinian political analyst in Ramallah. In addition, Egyptian President Mubarak is desperate to prove that his country remains a major player in the Middle East. But it is highly unlikely that Syrian President Assad would allow Mubarak's efforts to succeed. Relations between Assad and Mubarak have deteriorated to a point where the two have made it clear they will never agree to be seen in the same room.
2008-06-13 01:00:00
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