‘For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas to undermine Abbas govt’

Israeli governments, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, have taken a divide and conquer approach to control the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, according to an article by Tal Schneider in The Times of Israel. They undermined Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and supported Hamas, allowing indirect negotiations and cash inflows. Work permits for Gazan laborers have increased, and Israeli policy treated the Palestinian Authority as a burden and Hamas as an asset.