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Hamas Ditches Damascus | Via Meadia

blogs.the-american-interest.com1/28/12

But now Hamas has options. Turkey and Egypt are getting in closer touch with their inner Islamism. Fatah, corrupt and weak, has lost the aura that came from Arafat's presence at its head. And Assad is a liability.

Peres lauds Erdogan efforts on Shalit – Ynetnews

Russia Beyond The Headlines

Peres lauds Erdogan efforts on Shalit Ynetnews PM's negotiator: Mission yet to be accomplished Will the Shalit deal help improve the Israel -Turkey relations? President Shimon Peres used his public meeting with Israeli negotiator David Meidan on Wednesday to laud Ankara for its contribution to the … TURKISH PRESS REVIEW ON OCT 13www.worldbulletin.net all 9 news articles »

New information reveals that Shalit went on hunger strike shortly before his release, which caused Hamas to fear that they might lose their ‘secret weapon’, which in turn caused them to compromise their exchange deal.

Shalit apparently reached a point of malnutrition that put him in a life threatening situation.

An intelligence source said that “there were those in Hamas who feared that the extreme conditions under which Shalit was being held would mean they could not offer him the help he needed and he would die on them and so they compromised over the details of the prisoner exchange deal”.

And this would explain why he was so thin when released.

Hamas Desperately Needed A Political Boost

The spotlight has been fully on Mahmoud Abbas following his recent appearance at the United Nations General Assembly and his ongoing meetings around the world with high ranking officials and leaders.

And the so called Arab Spring put Hamas in an embarrassing situation with several countries.

In short, Hamas absolutely needed to present Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank with some kind of important political achievement.

Syria, Egypt And Hamas

Hamas is now in the uncomfortable position of having to support both the Syrian masses and the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt because many of those taking part in the uprisings solidly identify with its values, whilst Syria’s ruling regime supports Hamas and acts as its patron.

The Hamas-Fatach Agreement

Hamas’ response to the turmoil in Syria, was to attempt to strengthen its ties with Egypt, and the internal Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement was in part a signal to others that it was finally open to compromise

So as soon as Hamas signed the reconciliation deal with Fatah, a path for dialogue with Egyptian intelligence was created and the heads of Egyptian intelligence began to exert heavy pressure on the movement in an attempt to push forward other issues as well.

Egypt And Israel

The terror attacks near to Eilat in August pushed Israel and Egypt closer, and they began discussions on a series of security-related matters.

Egypt wanted to prove that it was still a central player in the post-Mubarak era, and was still able to fulfill the role of the responsible mediator, and its ongoing dialogue with Israel was a factor in promoting the prisoner swap deal.

The Power Struggle Between Hamas And The PA Played Their Part

As far as Hamas is concerned, the Shalit deal will enable it to bring to the Palestinian street a spontaneous wave of joy, because in Palestinian eyes, the prisoners issue is one of the most important matters on the agenda and it enjoys a consensus.

The deal will allow Hamas to show that it too has achieved a national success that will challenge Abbas’ achievements, and the prisoner exchange agreement will be presented on the Palestinian street as a real victory that was a result of Hamas’ armed resistance, in contrast to the diplomatic path being undertaken by Abbas.

Hamas will further argue that although the diplomatic path manages to win international support, it fails to prove itself on the ground, in everyday life, and Hamas was smart in insisting that half of the prisoners that will be released are from the West Bank.

Among the 1,027 Palestinian prisoners set to be released are hundreds of terrorists with blood on their hands, and they will be received on the Palestinian street as heroes, and Abbas, although he welcomed the deal is well aware of the wave of Hamas popularity that is expected to consume the street once the prisoners come home.

Will The Deal Mean More Terror?

Both Israel and Hamas have managed to create a real political achievement, but the big question is whether this wave of support will eventually create more terrorism.

A Reason For Optimism?

The Palestinians know that today, more than ever before, that they now have much to lose, and a person who has much to lose is far less dangerous than somebody that has nothing to lose.

Natanyahu Makes A Master Play

I’m simply amazed at how many supposed political pundits misread what happened in Jerusalem during Biden’s recent visit.

Journalists whom you’d imagine would know better almost jumped with joy and wrote such nonsense as;

“Bibi angry and embarrassed”.

“Bibi apologizes for unbelievable gaffe”.

Ehud Barak is angry”.

“Red faces in Jerusalem”.

Etc. etc.

A Master Play

The announcement, during Biden’s visit that plans to build 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem, had been approved was obviously orchestrated and both Bibi and Eli Yishai (who is a very astute politician) played excellent poker.

Joe Biden most likely doesn’t not know it, but the Palestinians certainly remember that a similar Israeli maneuver was used in order to get a green light for East Jerusalem’s Har Homa neighborhood.

What Really Went Down

If you find it hard to believe that the announcement was premeditated then just look at the end results.

Following Bibi’s apology for the announcement, and his statement that actual construction in Ramat Shlomo would not start for several years Biden said at Tel Aviv University:

"The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now".

and added that,

“The U.S. has no better friend than Israel”.

So intended or not, what Biden publicly implied was that the timing of the announcement was embarrassing, but the intended building in a few years time would be OK.

Thus Israel essentially received an American green light for its building plans in East Jerusalem.

Israel obviously doesn’t need a green light to build but feels much better when it gets it.

The Cherry On The Cake

Prior to Biden’s arrival, the Arab League had just recommended that the Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas agree to Washington’s proposal for indirect talks with Israel, but now, instead of being able to leave with an announcement that the talks have officially begun, Biden left with the news that Abu Mazen wouldn’t agree to talks and that the Arab League had suspended its recommendation.

Biden’s visit to Israel was intended to pressure Netanyahu to advance negotiations, but Abu Mazen is now refusing to enter into talks and the world is instead looking to the Arab League summit in Tripoli which is due to kick off in just under two weeks, to see what it proposes.

I was recently amazed at how many journalists bought into the idea that Mossad sent 28 plus operatives to Dubai to exterminate a cockroach, and never questioned why Mossad would use the names of Israeli residents etc.

In short, it’s clear that most political writers would be better off writing about some other subject, almost any other subject than politics, because they obviously haven’t got a clue when it comes to interpreting politicians and their plays.