Wednesday December 6, 2006

I've Been Thinking:

Who really runs Hamas?
The obvious answer would be Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
Obvious, but wrong.

Haniyeh just wrapped up a visit to Syria.
Haniyeh met with Bashar Assad, president of Syria.
More importantly, Haniyeh met with Khaled Mashal the real leader of Hamas.

Real Hamas power rests not in Gaza, real Hamas power comes out of Syria.
Real Hamas decision making is made not by Ismail Haniyeh, real decisions are made by Khaled Mashal.

The big question now is whether Mashal can agree to Israel's terms for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Hamas leadership in Gaza wants to agree to the deal but Hamas leadership in exile has not given Gaza the go-ahead.

One kidnapped Israeli soldier for 1000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Will Mashal agree?
We have to wait and see.