Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — Hamas’ military is said to have been divided over a
reconciliation agreement with the rival Fatah movement.

Hamas sources said an agreement brokered by Qatar and signed by
political bureau chief Khaled Masha’al and Palestinian Authority Chairman
Mahmoud Abbas has fueled a dispute within the Islamic movement’s Izzedin
Kassam military wing. They said the Kassam leadership was divided into
factions that oppose or support a national unity government with Fatah.

“Nobody supports this agreement strategically,” a Hamas source said. “The main question is whether this makes sense over the short term.”

The sources said Hamas chief of staff Ahmed Jabari supports a national unity government with Fatah as well as PA elections. They said Jabari, long deemed an advocate of Iran, has adopted the position of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh that Hamas could exploit the coalition with Fatah to acquire hundreds of millions of dollars in international aid for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

In contrast, Kassam founder Mohammed Deif is said to have opposed the agreement, which called for the appointment of Abbas to the post of PA prime minister. The sources said Deif has been concerned that Fatah would try to re-establish an operational presence in the Gaza Strip and foment unrest.

The London-based newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi said the dispute between Deif and Jabari was echoed in the political wing of Hamas. Al Quds said Deif has adopted the position of former Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, a
vociferous opponent of reconciliation with Fatah as well as a rival of Masha’al.

“There is a split in the ranks of the leadership of the Kassam Brigades,
the backbone of the security services operating in the Gaza Strip, regarding
the Doha agreement,” the newspaper said on Feb. 13.

The main concern over the Doha accord was that Abbas, with support from
the international community, would insist on restructuring the Palestinian
security services, including those in the Gaza Strip. Under the accord,
Abbas and his government would have authority over the strip, captured by
Hamas in 2007.

“No one inside the Hamas movement was consulted,” Zahar said.

In contrast, Jabari, formally Deif’s deputy, has supported the accord.
The sources said Jabari has moved from an opponent to an advocate of
Masha’al, who in February 2012 announced plans to resign.

“Jabari has even asked Masha’al not to step down,” the source said.

The Hamas faction in the Palestinian Legislative Council has also
opposed the Doha accord. Hamas legislators, backed by critics within Fatah,
said Abbas could not by Palestinian law serve as both chairman and prime
minister of the PA.

  Ahmed Jabari, Gaza Strip, Hamas split over brokered Palestinian unity deal, Ismail Haniyeh, Izzedin Kassam, Khaled Masha’al, Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Zahar, Mohammed Deif, unity government