Egyptian efforts to bring the warring Palestinian factions into a national reconciliation dialogue suffered a setback this week. After receiving assurances by Hamas leaders inside and outside Gaza that the Islamic movement would participate in the planned reconciliation dialogue session in Cairo on November 10, Hamas reversed its position. …
Cairo is fuming; the last thing the Egyptian leadership wanted was a public snub from Hamas. It had secured the movement’s approval of a proposed reconciliation framework before making it public. Egyptian officials privately blame hardliners inside Hamas— particularly the military wing—as well as their regional sponsors. While Cairo has de facto suspended its mediation efforts and allowed rumors to circulate that it would not resume them before the Israeli elections, it remains clear that Egypt cannot stand idly by and watch the Palestinian rift deepen.
As time passes, the parties become more entrenched. Inside Hamas, there are those who see no point in reconciliation: the status quo in Gaza offers Hamas space to maneuver, as well as regional and international relevance. Abbas and Fatah are running out of steam, and it is only a matter of time before Hamas makes inroads in the West Bank. Inside Fatah, there are those who take comfort at seeing Hamas choking on its cadeaux empoisonné. Reconciliation, from their point of view, would rescue Hamas from Gaza’s unsolvable problems and from its deadly isolation—and would oblige Fatah leaders to return to haggling over the wording of a national unity program. The ideological rigidity of Hamas and its regional allies make it impossible for the Islamist movement to adopt a realistic policy. Therefore, it is best to leave it with the unbearable weight of the Gaza Strip. Access the full article>>