Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas does not want to take responsibility of the Gaza Strip, because he is afraid of entering into a conflict against Hamas, accuse senior Israeli officials.

One of the officials told Walla! News Monday that “Abu Mazen is afraid to take responsibility for Gaza. The international community’s great hope that Fatah will come in and take charge after Operation Protective Edge will not be realized in the meantime.”

The main reason for Abbas’ inaction in Gaza, Israel explains, is the understanding that he does not have the ability to impose his authority on Hamas.

At the end of Operation Protective Edge, the Palestinian Authority (PA) stated its ambition to gradually return its  authority to the Gaza Strip. PA Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah, even came to visit Gaza for the first time since 2007.

However, Israel stated that apart from the symbolic visit, the balance of power Gaza has not changed.

According to one senior Israeli official, Abbas is stuck in a lose-lose situation.

“If his security staff enters Gaza and Hamas’ military wing continues to do whatever it wishes, Netanyahu will lay the blame on him.”

“If, however, he attempts to confront Hamas physically, the PA is likely to lose, especially in the current climate in which the Palestinians seem to be espousing Hamas.”

As if to highlight tensions between the two nationalist groups, several days ago, bombs were placed near the homes of senior Fatah officials in the Gaza Strip.

Fatah responded by canceling a Gaza rally, planned to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Yasser Arafat.

Hamas and Abbas also engaged in a war of words Tuesday over the explosions, despite their reconciliation agreement.

Abbas accused the terrorist organization, which controls Gaza, of trying “to destroy” efforts to broker “national unity” through a series of bomb blasts in Gaza last week.

Hamas quickly hit back, describing the allegations as “lies, insults and disinformation.”

Thus, it seems, Abbas can only lose by trying to take control of the Gaza Strip and all of its security concerns. Faced with the possibility of being seen as a policeman for Israel or being a scapegoat, he has chosen to stay out of the Strip.

View original Arutz Sheva publication at: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187367#.VGMixMmLUYA