Co-opted?

Ha'aretz reports that an Egyptian mediator has successfully gotten Hamas to agree in principle to a ceasefire. There was probably a combination of sticks and carrots. More sticks, I'd guess, since the mediator was the top Egyptian for "handling" Islamist groups in Egypt. And as you should know, Egypt doesn't handle Islamists very gently.

But can Hamas really be co-opted? Are these leaders scared enough for their own lives that they're willing to drop their ideological demands and settle for a PA-dominated state? I have my doubts. I think think a core group of rabid nationalists and religious zealots on both sides will continue to fight until they're forcibly stopped. But Hamas' leadership? If they're willing to give up some of their demands in exchange for the rest of the world not killing them, I think that's a pretty good bargain for us.