Stupid, stupid politcal calculus on the part of the West:
Leading Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar rejected Western and Egyptian pressure for his movement to recognize Israel and renounce violence.
‘The Western nations can take their aid and get lost,’ he told The Washington Times just before leaving his home for Friday prayers.
HAMAS hasn’t needed Western support for its hospitals, schools, orphanages, etc. for years.
Why on earth would (a) the West feels as if we could hold aid over the Palestinians, and (b) as if HAMAS would come crawling on its knees begging for a change in heart?
The better option would have to allow Palestine to rely on Western aid. Now, what possible soft leverage do we have?