Palestinian Authority happy that Hamas-Israel talks failed....

Last thing they want is more Hamas terrorists on the loose...

Some Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah have welcomed the failure of the prisoner exchange negotiations between Israel and Hamas as good news.

The PA has many reasons to fear a deal between Israel and Hamas.

First, the release of hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners would have been seen as a major victory for Hamas.

Recent public opinion polls have shown that Hamas's popularity is on the rise, in part thanks to Operation Cast Lead, which won the Islamic movement more sympathy among Palestinians in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

A prisoner exchange agreement would have further boosted Hamas's popularity, said a local newspaper editor.

"I know several Palestinian officials here who were happy to hear that the talks between Israel and Hamas had collapsed," he said. "They were concerned that such a deal would embolden Hamas and undermine the credibility of Fatah."