by Daniel Siryoti and Shlomo Cesana
Senior PA source: "The more evidence is collected, the more it appears that Hamas betrayed the trust it was given and that the organization exploited the reconciliation agreement to throw sand in our eyes" • PA considers Hamas asset seizure.
The new Palestinian unity
government was sworn in two weeks ago
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Photo credit: Reuters  |
Tensions between Hamas and the Palestinian
Authority, following the abduction of three Israeli teenagers in the
West Bank, have reached a critical lack of trust that threatens to
dismantle the Palestinian unity government and delay the implementation
of the sides' reconciliation pact.
The crisis, according to a senior source in
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' bureau, began after Abbas
ordered his security forces to increase cooperation with Israeli
security forces to help locate the three missing teens. Hamas was
outraged at the order and issued a statement saying, "It was treasonous
to Palestinian interests and could even be a detriment to the
implementation of the inner-Palestinian reconciliation accord, to the
point of dismantling the fledgling unity government."
A senior Palestinian source confirmed to
Israel Hayom that during the phone conversation between Abbas and Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister presented Abbas with
clear evidence of Hamas' involvement in the abduction, which was
perpetrated with the knowledge and approval of senior political Hamas
officials -- a matter that constitutes a clear violation of the
inner-Palestinian reconciliation understandings.
"At the moment we are still confirming the
degree of Hamas' and its senior officials' involvement in the abduction.
If it becomes clear to us that it was done with the knowledge and
approval of Hamas' senior political echelon, there will be no choice but
to dismantle the unity government and postpone the inner-Palestinian
reconciliation process," the senior PA source told Israel Hayom.
According to the same source, "The
understandings with Hamas, which made it possible to create the unity
government ... included commitments from Hamas not to undertake violence
and terror. But the more evidence is collected, the more it appears
that Hamas betrayed the trust it was given and that the organization
exploited the reconciliation agreement to throw sand in our eyes and
reopen its terrorist network in the West Bank, which harms not only
Israel but also the Palestinian Authority."
The senior PA source emphasized that if it
becomes evident beyond a doubt that Hamas is behind the abduction -- the
unity government would be immediately disbanded. "We will act to
confiscate and seize all Hamas assets in the West Bank," he said. The
source also added that PA officials in Ramallah were considering closing
down organizations and associations in the West Bank affiliated with
Hamas, which were permitted to return and reopen due to the formation of
the unity government.
Officials in Ramallah are concerned over
mounting international pressure. "The incident raised the ire of the PA
chairman after he received outraged responses from senior figures in the
international community. They complained that while the Fatah-Hamas
government was receiving international recognition, a kidnapping attack
was being conducted against Israeli teenagers, allegedly ordered by
Hamas, which is part of the Palestinian government that declared it
opposes terror and recognizes Israel," one official said.
Hamas rejected the claims and denied any
involvement in the kidnapping. Senior Hamas member Mushir al-Masri told
Palestinian television that "the claims that Hamas is behind the
abduction of the Israeli settlers is an Israeli fabrication intended to
harm inner-Palestinian reconciliation and break apart the unity
government."
Israeli officials said they expected and hoped
that international pressure would lead Abbas to abandon his partnership
with Hamas.
Netanyahu told Abbas on the phone on Monday: "I expect
your assistance in returning the abducted boys home and in capturing the
kidnappers. The Hamas kidnappers came out of Palestinian
Authority-controlled territory, and returned to Palestinian
Authority-controlled territory."
Daniel Siryoti and Shlomo Cesana
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=18197
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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