The extraordinary images of the handshake between Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen have aroused much interest in Israel. 60 of the state - may also turn out to be important.
Algeria, which has never established relations with Israel, is exacerbating its positions against Jerusalem and may even become an alternative rear base of Hamas, which is being pushed out of Turkey as a result of the rapprochement between Ankara and Jerusalem.
The background to this development is the growing ties between Israel and Morocco, whose long-standing territorial dispute with Algeria over control of Western Sahara.
Abu Mazen and Haniya shake hands
Last month, during a visit to Morocco, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked first expressed Israel's support for Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed region.
In addition, there have been many recent reports of significant arms deals between Israel and Morocco and of growing security and political cooperation.
"The Algerian commitment to the Palestinian cause is long-standing, dating back to the days of Arafat, who saw Algerian opposition to the French occupation as a role model," said Brigadier General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, former head of the Armed Forces Research Division and now a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center Public and state.
"However, there is no doubt that Israel's rapprochement with Morocco and reports of closer military and security ties between the two countries give Algeria increased motivation to embrace Hamas.
Herzog and Erdogan.
Relations with Turkey are heating up, Photo: GPO
"This does not necessarily mean that the government there will agree to host Hamas and allow it to establish a logistical home front in its territory, since the Algerians still want to maintain legitimacy with the West, but it is certainly a scenario that could materialize if the current trend worsens. "With regard to Turkey, since it is a more distant country that is not a major crossroads for the movement of various factors, it may not have a better alternative."
Brigadier General (Res.) Amir Avivi, former head of the Office of the Chief of Staff and now chairman of the Security Movement, says that "it should be understood that Iran is involved in this process - the Iranians are very active in North Africa and Algeria, advising and arming it.
Hezbollah is present in the country and coaches Polisario - the rebel organization that fights Moroccans in Western Sahara and Algeria serves as its base.
"The fact that Turkey is getting closer to Israel, and that it is under heavy American pressure to expel Hamas, makes Algeria an alternative option for the terrorist organization. Hamas leaders abroad are constantly looking for places to place their headquarters, and we have seen this in the Gulf states as well.
"Such a logistical backbone makes it possible to train and recruit activists, to engage in drug smuggling that brings money to the organization, and more - especially when in the Gaza Strip Hamas' ability to generate channels of income for itself is limited."
Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yaakov Amidror, former national security adviser, explains that "at the international level there are no free meals and this is another example. Algeria was not a fan of Israel even before the agreement with Morocco, but it is quite possible that the agreement intensified this trend. "However, the profit from it is large enough that Israel is worth paying this price. Just as Arafat was pushed from Lebanon to Tunisia, so senior Hamas figures may be pushed to Algeria, which is in a less central location but is still politically part of the Middle East."
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