Iran and Syria behind Hamas Move?

The Jerusalem Post reports that the PLO leadership is accusing Syria and Iran of working with Hamas to undermine and replace the leadership of the PLO. (See this post yesterday.) I doubt that Hamas would take such a step on its own.

The Palestinian Authority on Thursday accused Iran and Syria of encouraging Hamas and other radical groups to establish a new leadership that would challenge the PLO's claim to be the "sole and legitimate" representative of the Palestinians.

The Hamas effort so far includes "all the Damascus-based Palestinian groups, including Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command headed by Ahmed Jibril." West Bank based PA officials termed the effort "the most serious challenge to the PLO since its founding."

Ahmed Abdel Rahman, a senior Fatah official closely associated with Abbas, accused the Iranians and Syrians of meddling in Palestinian affairs. "This is cheap meddling in our affairs," he said. "They are inciting some sick people like Khaled Mashaal to reject national reconciliation and to go ahead with their plans to form an alternative leadership. But these attempts are doomed to failure."

"They are seeking to take advantage of the increased sympathy for Hamas on the Arab street following the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip," the official said. "We see this as a declaration of war on the legitimate representatives of the Palestinians."

Senior Fatah official Hussein a-Sheikh stated: "This is an Iranian-Syrian plot against the PLO," he said. "We will do our utmost to thwart it."

Another senior Fatah official, Ziad Abu Ein, said Damascus and Teheran were seeking to "destroy" the Palestinian cause and to solidify divisions among the Palestinians.

The PA believes that Qatar is also behind the call to establish a new Palestinian leadership. A PA official said the Qatari-owned Al-Jazeera network had long served as a platform for Mashaal and Hamas. He also claimed that the station had been "inciting" against Fatah and Mahmoud Abbas by depicting them as traitors.

If this move succeeds, Israel will have no one to negotiate with, unless Hamas suddenly changes its policies. And if the Palestinians choose electorally to turn to Hamas, or a Hamas-like coalition of groups for representation, they'll be in for a rough time. Nor would this be good news for the Obama administration.