It should be noted that the rhetoric of Hamas’ top brass may be about reconciliation, but it appears satisfied with maintaining the status quo; the gap between the West Bank and Gaza is gradually being reduced, Qatar is offering donations of a quarter of a billion dollars and relations with Egypt seem to be playing into Hamas’ favor, at the expense of Fatah, even following the Sinai bombings.

At the same time, the reality created by Hamas – the large revenues from taxes on the merchandise transferred through the tunnels, the fact that it doesn’t pay for electricity, alongside the PA’s continued assumption of responsibility for Gaza’s welfare (paying salaries to 60,000 former PA clerks that live in Gaza who essentially sit in their houses and do nothing) - only strengthens the organization’s desire to sustain the division with Fatah. In other words, for Hamas, national reconciliation means losing hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Bill Clinton’s 1992 election slogan “It’s the economy stupid,” was apparently right.

I do feel I need to double check on some details on this but - basically Gaza is booming - somehow - but West Bank’s economy is really facing problems.

We do need more ‘clicking’ reports and literatures on this Hamas - PA division, history and rivalry. Esp in terms of politics and psychology.