The Bad News and The Really Bad News

Although, those who believe in the Dayton Thesis (a la Condi Rice; a la Hillary Clinton) that a strong PA force can be developed with will tame terror and allow Israel to think it can surrender startegic territory for its survival might think the following is good news, it's bad news and if you read the second item, you'll know why it's really bad news.

1.

PA says detained Hamas agents in West Bank

A Palestinian source told Ynet on Sunday that the Palestinian Authority had recently exposed a network of security personnel who cooperated with Hamas and gathered intelligence regarding the whereabouts and movement of top PA officials.

According to the source, the operation was headed by an intelligence officer who resides in the Jilazoun refugee camp near Ramallah [I used to drive by there for years until the new bypass road was paved - YM]. He was arrested along with four other people, the official said, adding that during his interrogation the officer admitted to receiving tens of thousands of dollars from Hamas and that some of the intelligence he had gathered was meant to help the Islamist group harm senior PA officials.

The source said the PA refrained from making the arrests public so as not to hinder the Egyptian-mediated reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas, which are expected to resume in Cairo on Monday. However, he said, the Authority was closely monitoring Hamas' recruitment efforts in the West Bank.

and now for number

2.

Poll: Haniyeh beats Abbas in West Bank, Gaza

If elections were held today in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh would defeat Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, according to an opinion poll published on Monday.

The survey also showed that Hamas's popularity among Palestinians had increased in the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead.

...The previous poll, conducted last December, gave Hamas only a 28% popularity rating, while the current poll showed the movement's popularity had increased to 33%.

...Hamas reiterated on Monday its fierce opposition to the appointment of outgoing PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayad.

Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas legislator and spokesman in the Gaza Strip, said Fayad, who submitted his resignation over the weekend, was "unacceptable" to the Palestinians..."Fayad is America's man in the region, and that's why the Palestinians don't want him," Masri said. "Fayad is not even accepted by Fatah, where he faces opposition by many of its leaders and members."