Will Abbas sever ties with Hamas for good?

Tensions between Fatah and Hamas are escalating in light of recent accusations against President Mahmoud Abbas of monopolizing the decision-making process and making one-sided decisions.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during an official ceremony commemorating the Egyptian National Day at the Egyptian Embassy in the West Bank city of Ramallah July 27, 2015. Rumblings in Ramallah in recent weeks have raised expectations that Palestinian politics is in play, with 80-year-old Abbas, in power for more than a decade, facing a mounting challenge to his leadership. There is frequent speculation that Abbas, who was elected to a four-year term in 2005 and has not had to face a vote since
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during an official ceremony commemorating the Egyptian National Day at the Egyptian Embassy in the West Bank city of Ramallah, July 27, 2015. - REUTERS/Mohamed Torokman
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Tensions between Fatah and Hamas have been increasing daily, in light of security measures taken by Fatah's Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank since early July, such as the arrest and summoning of Hamas activists. And in early August, Hamas made serious statements against Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

In an Aug. 12 press statement, Mahmoud al-Zahar, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, ruled out a reconciliation between those who fight Israel (meaning Hamas) and those who cooperate with it (referring to Fatah) and said Abbas would lose any future elections. Zahar did not name either Hamas or Fatah directly, however.

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