The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and State has a special briefing • In addition: about the PA's success in dealing with the Corona and why the Tanzim prefer Abu Mazen?

• Who will be the key players in the deal?

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The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and State on Monday delivered a special briefing on the Corona crisis in the Palestinian Authority and contacts for a prisoner deal with the Hamas terrorist organization.

According to the journalist and senior lecturer at the Jerusalem Center, Yoni Ben Menahem, Hamas is trying to split the prisoner deal in order to obtain a larger release of prisoners, similar to the format of a Shalit deal in 2011. Remember, the same deal preceded a video in which Gilad Shalit was seen alive and in return Israel released 20 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas is now looking for a similar forward deal, as opposed to Israel striving for a single package deal.  

Pinchas Inbari, a consultant and senior lecturer at the center, discussed the power struggles in the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. He said that while the Shura Council headed by Yahya Sinwar is only interested in the Gaza Strip, the political bureau headed by Ismail Haniyeh is more connected to the Muslim Brotherhood. In this regard, Inbari noted that there are differences between the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. For the Muslim Brotherhood, the main goal is Europe, and for this purpose they are cooperating with the socialists on the continent, the so-called "red-green alliance". And so they are seemingly "moderate" and "resisting violence." Compared to the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas is a "resistance" movement that differentiates itself from Ramallah precisely in the armed struggle. 

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Inbari also believes that pulling the strings in the political bureau is actually Khaled Mashaal and not Haniyeh. He mentioned that due to the friction between Haniyeh, who apparently heads the movement, and Sinwar, the first left the Gaza Strip. In that regard, Inbari explained that the latest deal goes through Sinwar and we know this because of Egypt's significant involvement.

Regarding the Palestinian Authority, Inbari said that while the PLO, that is, members of the organization that returned with Arafat under the Oslo agreements from Tunisia, controls Ramallah, the Tanzim have more grip on the camps. For example, Jenin's Tenzim have quiet understandings with the Ramallah leadership that will not interfere in his business, and he is in fact running like a bakery and dealing in arms and drug trafficking. This faction, according to Inbari, prefers Abu Mazen precisely because of his weakness. 

Middle East journalist and expert, Shimrit Meir, spoke about the impact of the region's changes as a result of the Corona on the Palestinians. Among other things, Meir noted that Abu Mazen and other senior Palestinian leaders know less about how to deal with the Corona crisis since it is a civil issue. Against the backdrop of the coalition agreement between the Likud and the Blue and White, Meir said the significant axis in the decision to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria will be between Jordan, blue and white officials and who are destined to be defense and foreign ministers - Benny Gantz and Gabi Ashkenazi and Jared Kushner, US special counsel Donald Trump .