Hamas Heating Up The Gaza Border, Tightening Its Grip Internally

Hamas is back to firing rockets at Israeli civilians and unleashing RPG missiles and mortar shells at Israeli troops. I wonder if there’s anything they’re concerned about. Hmm…

The power struggle in Iran sparked by the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is weakening the country’s ability to back Islamist groups Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as Iraqi militants. The main coordinator of support to these groups has been Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, whose Basij militia played a role in suppressing demonstrations against last month’s election results. With the country still divided over the election, the Guards will focus on keeping their patron Ahmadinejad in office, said Jeremy Binnie, an analyst at Jane’s Defence Weekly in London. “Their head guys would presumably at this stage be more worried about domestic opposition than they would be about regional scheming,” Binnie said.

Hamas leaders have also tightened their grip on Gaza. They’ve been steadily gaining in popularity for months and they don’t have to worry about domestic upkeep any more, courtesy of Obama’s billion dollar Gaza stimulus. Anything that the stimulus doesn’t cover is undoubtedly made up for by the suitcases of cash their “diplomats” bring back from their regular jaunts outside the Gaza Strip.

So they’ve had time to pursue more mundane tasks like systematically purging political opponents, routinely engaging in round after round of public executions.

They’ve also stepped up their control of day to day life in the Strip. They’ve opened up a Hamas-affiliated bank. They’ve demanded that all weddings be coordinated with the police. They’ve even cut PA salaries to pay for Korans, which I think is nice given how they’ve been promising for years to make sharia a source of legislation. This way people can know in advance which specific micro-fascist decrees the government is likely to pass.

So while Hamas is probably a little concerned about Iran taking its eye off the genocidal anti-Israel ball, they’re not exactly teetering on the edge of collapse. Which is a problem for the peace process given the “they’re intransigent genocidal fanatics” thing.

I wonder if that’s the message that Carter delivered to Obama. Or that Malley discussed with Obama. I hope so because I’ve been told it’s very important to be reality-based when formulating policy.

References and previously after the jump…

References:
* After month-long lull, Qassam strikes Negev [Ha'aretz]
* Palestinians open fire at soldiers near Gaza border [YNet]
* Iran Turmoil May Cost Hezbollah, Hamas Amid Retreat (Update1) [Bloomberg]
* As Hamas Tightens Its Grip [Toameh]
* Poll: Hamas more popular after Gaza offensive [Ha'aretz]
* US Pledges $1B Stimulus Package… For Gaza [MR]
* Hamas negotiators stopped with suitcases of cash [AP]
* Amnesty: Hamas eliminating opponents [JPost]
* Hamas confirms executing Fatah collaborators [JPost]
* First Hamas-affiliated bank opens in Gaza [AFP]
* Hamas bans weddings ‘to help students concentrate’ [YNet]
* Gaza: Hamas imposes ‘Koran levy’ [YNet]
* Hamas official: Group will make Islamic law a source for legislation [Ha'aretz]
* Carter Briefed Obama About Hamas [Rosen]
* Malley: "Concerning Hamas…I don’t think Obama shares my point of view" [Rosen]