Israel-Hamas prisoner exchange goes through

released will be allowed to return to the West Bank

Reasons for the deal

Why were to two sides willing to make these compromises now in order to allow the deal to go through? Analysts point to the following explanations:

For Hamas:

— The position of Hamas among the Palestinians has been weakening. After four years of controlling Gaza, the organizations does not have much to show by way of economic development – especially when compared to the brisk pace of economic growth in the West Bank. Hamas needed some victory – any victory – to burnish its image, and it needed it now.

— Hams is in the process of moving its headquarters form Damascus to Cairo. Egypt has tried to mediate the release of Shalit for five years now – and it told Hamas in no uncertain terms that it regarded Hamas as the more intransigent of the two parties. On the eve of moving their offices to Cairo, it became clear to Hamas – perhaps it was made clear — that a conciliatory gesture toward the Egyptians would be the wise thing to do.

— Hamas failed to deliver on its promise of economic development in Gaza, but the move last month by the Palestinian Authority to gain UN recognition for Palestinian statehood threatened to make the PA’s claim to be the leader of all Palestinians even stronger. Hamas, by insisting that not only Hamas members be released from Israeli jails, but that Palestinians from all factions, including Fatah – and also including Israeli Arabs and resident of East Jerusalem – has bolstered its own claim to the mantel of all-Palestinian leadership

For Israel:

— The Shalit release has become a cause célèbre in Israel – with the plight of the Shalit family galvanizing the nation. Thousands participated in marches and demonstration demanding that the government agree to even the most extravagant demands in order to bring Shalit home.

— Israel has always embraced the ethos of doing everything it could to return imprisoned soldiers home – almost regardless of the price to be paid (something Hezbollah and Hamas know very well). There were one or two occasions when Israel dragged its feet – and the price paid was high. Twenty-five years ago, an Israeli pilot named Ron Arad bailed out over Lebanon and was captured by Hezbollah. Negotiations, through intermediaries, between Israel and Hezbollah – and Israel and Iran, where it is assumed Arad was