Hamas also appears to be unnerved. In recent days, the Hamas government has intensified its efforts to prevent widespread demonstrations in the Gaza Strip. The move came following calls on Facebook by many young Palestinians to organize a revolt against the Hamas regime.

The Islamist movement also announced its strong opposition to new elections; apparently it fears that the vote would not be fair and free in light of the Palestinian Authority's crackdown on Hamas's supporters in the West Bank.

The measures taken by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas will only deepen divisions between the two sides -- a split that is likely to continue for quite a while. For now, the Palestinians will have to live with two entities that are separated politically and geographically.

It is hard to see how the Palestinian Authority would be able to hold any election without the consent of the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip.

All the Palestinian Authority and Hamas leaders care about is clinging onto power for as long as possible