Compared to Khaled Meshaal, PM Ismail Haniyeh is a “moderate face” for Hamas. But make no mistake, Haniyah shares the Hamas covenant‘s goal of destroying Israel. After Hamas claimed responsibility for shooting an Israeli and trying to send a suicide bomber from Egypt, NY Times suggests the terror organization can be divided into pragmatists and militants.
The events highlighted the discord that has become apparent between more pragmatic local leaders of Hamas, like Mr. Haniya, and the militants who are said to take orders from the leadership in exile led by Khaled Meshal. In his inaugural speech before the Palestinian parliament on Saturday, Mr. Haniya said Palestinians had a “legitimate right” to resist occupation “by all means.” But he also said his new government wanted to consolidate the current truce with Israel and expand it from Gaza to include the West Bank.
If Meshaal’s calling the shots, why should Israel negotiate with Haniyah, as George Soros, The Guardian, and others suggest?
