Abba Eban, the Israeli politician, once remarked that the Palestinians “never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity”. This week, Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas Prime Minister of the Gaza Strip, was quick to share his thoughts on the death of Osama bin Laden. “We condemn the assassination of a Muslim and Arab warrior and we pray to God that his soul rests in peace,” he said, showing that Mr Eban was not wrong.

As Hamas enters into a power-sharing agreement with the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, such idiocy is a gift to Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, who had already declared that Fatah must choose between peace with Hamas or peace with Israel. While the response of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, was perhaps more helpful (“we would rather have peace with both”), many share Mr Netanyahu’s pessimism. As the deal came into force, there were celebrations in Gaza streets. In Ramallah, the mood was more subdued. The difference is telling. This is a deal in which Hamas has everything to gain, and Fatah everything to lose.

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