The shadow of Hamas looms large over West Bank. Fatah fears it. Israel and the US resent it. After Fatah was hounded out of Gaza by Hamas, a tit-for-tat is happening in West Bank. Free kitchens run by Hamas are being attacked. All men with a beard, a symbol of Hamas, are being detained. Many of its members have been arrested. Israel has thrown 40 of the 76 Hamas West Bank legislators into prison. So much for democracy!
Hamas has shrewdly gone underground. It is being harassed by both Fatah and Israel and as a result of which it is gaining public sympathy. It needs this deepening support to wash off the stains that tarnished its reputation because of its ruthlessness against Fatah in Gaza last month.
Israel’s attitude towards Fatah is only helping Hamas. Palestinians resent the fact that even though Fatah has turned servile towards Israel, the returns are paltry- the release of only a portion of the $600 million of withheld Palestinian tax money and an offer to free just 250 prisoners held in Israeli jails, among some 11,000.
In stark contrast the hard stand of Hamas against Israel is very appealing to ordinary Palestinians.That Hamas enjoys popular support is borne out by the fact that it fared very well in the January 2006 elections, helped by the common feeling that Fatah had turned corrupt and weak. The perception still prevails amongst the populace.
Israel and the US fear Hamas’ Islamism could spread elsewhere in the Arab world.
