Hamas: Abbas is preparing to take over after Israel leaves Gaza

Bethlehem – Ma’an – Hamas’ website, the Palestinian Information Center, posted an article accusing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of preparing to take control of the Gaza Strip after Israel topples Hamas.

The article was posted Tuesday morning and claims Hamas got hold of a “secret report” elaborating plans of Abbas to re-establish control in Gaza. The report says Abbas called Palestinian officials in Ramallah while he was in Egypt en route to Saudi Arabia.

It said Abbas was in Cairo in order to coordinate a joint plan on facing the changes in the Gaza Strip.

Abbas reportedly asked his interior minister and security commanders to prepare an emergency unit prepared to take over after the Hamas regime collapses in Gaza.

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=34406

...so I would expect he would take over.

While I have a great deal of sympathy for the Palestinians, I would not be sorry to see Hamas out of leadership. It would only increase the chances for a final resolution.

Call me cynical, but that is tends to be the way things are done

I do not recall the precise article this was in, but yesterday evening I read a blurb in an Israeli paper speculating that Israel and Fatah should hope to postpone or completely cancel the upcoming elections, for they are afraid that Hamas would completely sweep Gaza *and* West Bank at this time. And one of the most important things about a 'democracy' as it is presently understood (do not be deceived by the dictionary definition) is to ensure that the wrong outcomes are not available on the ballot.

His term is up next year.

The most recent poll showed Fatah with more support than Hamas.

Who knows how recent events will impact that however.

The only way forward for all of the Palestinians is for Hamas to yield to the PA. THen and only will the shooting stop (from both sides) and let things start to get rebuilt.

However given the prior behavior of Hamas, they will not yield, even for the good of the people. Like other fascists before them, they will let everyone and everything be ground up and die before they admit defeat.