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Palestinian Authority warns Israel of strengthening Hamas

Senior Ramallah Palestinians warn Israel that its efforts to weaken President Mahmoud Abbas would end up with Hamas taking over the West Bank and Palestinian leadership.
Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh gestures during a rally marking the 31st anniversary of Hamas' founding, in Gaza City December 16, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa - RC1262A82640
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On Dec. 17, Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh met with top Civil Administration officials in Jerusalem to give them an overview of the miserable state of affairs in the Palestinian Authority (PA). After news of the meeting became public, Sheikh told the Palestinian Ma'an News Agency that Egypt and Jordan had asked him to warn Israel that if it continues its policy of opposing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the PA, it would have to “bear the consequences.”

Israel maintains an open channel of communications with Egypt over the situation in Gaza and is also in contact with Jordan. So it is doubtful that either of those countries pressured Sheikh to meet with the Israelis. It is far more likely that this was Sheikh’s way to justify the meeting. Given the current situation in the PA, any contact it initiates with Israel could be interpreted as collaboration with “the enemy.”

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