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Hamas Ties to Qatar Have Cost

Hamas seeks to maintain its independence but has faced challenges since pivoting from Syria and Iran to Qatar, writes Adnan Abu Amer.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani (C) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal attend a ceremony in Doha, on February 6, 2012.  Abbas will head an interim national consensus government under a deal signed in Qatar between Abbas and Meshaal , ending a long-running disagreement that had stalled Palestinian reconciliation.
AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)
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When Hamas decided to leave Syria — a consequential and historic decision — I was certain that no Arab country — including Arab Spring countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Libya — would agree to host the organization on its territory for many considerations, including avoiding both angering the US and depriving that country’s Islamists of popular support as a result of them having Islamist Palestinian leaders among them.

So Hamas contacted Jordan and Sudan to see if either would open up its borders to it. They both refused — in a diplomatic manner — although they welcomed dozens of Hamas members who left Syria. 

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