The Ramallah-based Arab Fatah faction in the Palestinian Authority is openly rejecting the freeing of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in an exchange deal being negotiated with the Gaza-based Hamas faction, saying the agreement will signal the end of an era in the relationship between Fatah and Israel.
As part of the agreement, Israel will free 1,000 Arab prisoners, including 25 convicted murderers in exchange for Shalit. Currently serving five life sentences for the brutal murder of five civilians, Fatah terror mastermind Marwan Barghouti is one of the convicts who is slated for release.
If the deal is made, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is concerned the parliament will be assembled including Hamas representatives who are now sitting in Israeli prisons, with Hamas calling for early elections in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. Due to unprecedented popular support for Hamas in the wake of its war with Israel in Gaza a month ago, Fatah believes Hamas would sweep the elections, winning not just their current stronghold in Gaza, but also Judea and Samaria, making Hamas the exclusive and legitimate elected representatives of all Palestinians.
Though Barghouti is politically popular, Arab analysts do not believe he would use this opportunity to run against the faction which secured his release from jail.
Egypt, which is mediating the agreement between Israel and Hamas, is attempting to secure a guarantee from Hamas that the terrorist organization will not force PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to resign and demand early elections, but it is unclear if Egypt will secure the assurance, or if Hamas will ultimately honor it.