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Shalit and Hamas / The deal that could bring down Abbas By Avi Issacharoff Concerned voices have been heard in the Muqata in Ramallah over the past few days: Senior Palestinian Authority and Fatah officials are speaking openly of the end of an era if an agreement to free abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is reached. Palestinian officials say a Shalit deal would bring about early elections in the territories, and Hamas would win again - but this time it would win the Palestinian presidential election, too. Israel would then be forced to deal with a Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, they say. The latest poll from the Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre conducted n the territories shows the recent war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip afforded the Islamic organization unprecedented popularity. For the first time, Hamas is leading Fatah in the polls: 28.6 percent for Hamas compared to 27.9 percent for Fatah. Despite the euphoria in Israel over the Gaza operation, on the Palestinian side at least, some 46.7 percent view the Gaza fighting as a Hamas victory and only 9.8 percent deemed Israel the victor. Some 37.4 percent thought there was no winner. Advertisement The reports first published in Haaretz, that there was a breakthrough in the deal for Shalit's return, bode ill for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The immediate significance of a Shalit agreement would be the assembly of the Palestinian parliament again, including all the Hamas representatives now sitting in Israeli prisons. This has Fatah concerned, as Hamas would apparently claim a large majority in the parliament and could therefore render Salam Fayyad's government illegal. Hamas could also pass a law stating Abbas' term had ended on January 9 and he now had to resign and hold new elections. It is not at all clear if any or all of these events would transpire. Egypt, which is mediating the contacts to free Shalit, will try to receive guarantees from Hamas that it will not take such steps, but nothing can truly prevent the organization from making use of its majority in the parliament. Before the war in Gaza, Hamas did not seek early elections for either the parliament or the presidency as it feared it would lose power; however, after securing a Shalit deal and a "victory" against Israel in Gaza, it would expect increased support. Arab papers have mentioned Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti as one of the prisoners who could be freed in the Shalit deal. However, even though Barghouti enjoys wide support among the Palestinian public, he would have a difficult time lashing out against those who secured his release. Such a move might provide Fatah with a future leader, but even Barghouti could not stop the wave of support for Hamas. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Gaining respect Netanyahu values self-pride, but what about respect for Judaism's ethical heritage? Internal strife A rift between Hamas in Gaza and Syria holds up a deal to free Gilad Shalit.

Read & React Report: Israel to free Barghouti as part of Shalit deal Responses: 104 Gideon Levy: Rise of Lieberman proves racism now an accepted Israeli value Responses: 52 Shas' Rabbi Yosef: Voting for Lieberman gives strength to Satan Responses: 48 Bradley Burston: Can Netanyahu be stopped? Can Lieberman? Responses: 21 More Headlines 00:09 Egypt sources: Hamas agrees to link Shalit deal to opening of Gaza border 01:45 ANALYSIS / Fatah fears Shalit deal will bring down Abbas 23:34 Hamas: Fatah strongman Dahlan collaborated with Israel ahead of Gaza op 22:21 Elections 2009 / Voting already underway for IDF and Border Police 22:19 Elections 2009 / Olmert: I hope Livni is elected prime minister 00:09 Israel elections / '99% of Israeli Arabs stand by their loyalty to the state' 22:44 Venezuela arrests 11, including 7 cops, over synagogue attack 22:57 Two Gaza rockets strike west Negev as truce talks progress 02:12 N.Y. rabbi aims to ease Jewish-Muslim tensions in Europe stoked by Gaza op 22:20 U.S. Jew stabbed in the face by Palestinians in Jerusalem 01:24 Lieberman now throwing his 'no loyalty, no citizenship' motto at Shas 17:25 Police probing veracity of IDF soldier's claim he was attacked in Jaffa 22:55 Elections 2009 / Netanyahu: I'll keep the Golan Israeli, Jerusalem undivided 00:48 PMO: Netanyahu approved plan for 'Israeli White House' in 1996 19:17 Israel Election Guide: Can Netanyahu be stopped? Can Lieberman? 11:40 U.S. Writers Guild names Israeli war film 'Waltz with Bashir' best documentary Previous Editions Select Day 08 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 02 feb 01 feb 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 26 jan

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