Mesha’al is arguably the Palestinians’ most charismatic figure with the possible exception of Fatah’s Marwan Barghouti, currently serving three life sentences in an Israeli prison. Mesha’al is someone with substantial influence with a towering personality that makes Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas appear bland by comparison. It goes without saying that there is no love lost between Mesha’al and the Israeli leadership, following Mossad’s unsuccessful attempt on his life in September, 1997, on the orders of Benjamin Netanyahu. He was poisoned by Israeli agents who had entered Jordan on fake Canadian passports and if it were not for the intervention of Jordan’s King Hussain, who insisted Israel must hand over the antidote, Mesha’al would not be around today. Nevertheless, in recent times, he has eschewed extreme hard line positions for pragmatism.

During a recent interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Mesha’al was asked whether he was still committed to Palestine from Jordan to the sea. “Palestine, from the river to the sea, from the north to the south, it is my land. And the land of my fathers and grandfathers, inhabited by the Palestinians from a long time ago ...” he answered. “But because of the circumstances of the region, because of the keenness to stop the bloodshed, the Palestinians today, and in the past, and Hamas, have agreed about a programme that accepts the 1967 borders. However, the Israelis do not accept that. So it is all about — up to the Israelis. And the international community is failing to do us justice.” He concluded the interview with fine sentiments, summing up his ultimate ambition. “Peace, the kind of peace that precludes occupation and bloodshed. Our Islam, all religions, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, true Judaism, given this is revealed by God, does not allow the killing of any innocents in the world.”

Mesha’al’s reasoned response fitted seamlessly into the current international climate that has witnessed a shift of global sympathy towards the Palestinians, evidenced by an overwhelming UN General Assembly vote to upgrade Palestine’s UN status to that of non-member observer state. It has come at a time when Israel is generally perceived as a land-grabbing belligerent, fatally hobbling a two-state solution with plans to link occupied East Jerusalem, slated as Palestine’s capital, to the mega Jewish colony of Ma’ale Adumim, with the construction of thousands of new Jewish homes. He confirmed what the international community has come to understand: It’s not the Palestinians who are obstructing the peace process, it is Netanyahu’s obstinacy. Further, it came when the Arab world has warmed to Hamas, opening doors to its leadership. It is significant that representatives from a number of Arab states and Turkey travelled to Gaza to participate in anniversary celebrations.