Hamas unfazed by Fatah outreach to Iran
Syria is still a sticky issue between Hamas and both Fatah and Iran.
Soon after Hamas' fallout with Iran over Syria settled, some warmth returned to their relations. Meetings between Hamas and Iran were renewed at the highest levels in December 2013.
Yet just as Hamas thought that its relations with the Iranians had been restored, Jibril Rajoub, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, visited Tehran Jan. 27. The visit was the first of its kind by a Fatah official in years, and raised many questions about Hamas' ability to maintain the alliance with Iran that has endured for nearly 10 years. The trip drew the interest of Hamas amid talk that Fatah — its biggest rival in the Palestinian arena — would seek to exploit Hamas’ cool relations with Iran.
Rajoub, who arrived in Tehran as an official representative of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, met individually with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his deputy. Rajoub said that this visit opened up a new page in bilateral relations and stressed that the PA was ready to strengthen its ties with Tehran.
A Hamas official in Gaza told Al-Monitor that Rajoub's statements welcoming ties with Iran contradicted Fatah's previous allegations that "Iran was blatantly interfering in internal Palestinian affairs and had a deep desire to commandeer the [Palestinian] cause and to use it to achieve [Tehran's] regional ambitions. [Fatah has also claimed that] Iran has shown a tendency for expansion at the expense of the interests of the Arab nation."
