Rival Palestinian factions agree to unity government
Hamas appear to be on the verge of agreeing to forming a new unity government in Palestine which could hopefully lead to fresh negotiations between Mahmoud Abbas and Ehud Olmert to end the stalemate in Gaza and lead to a negotiated settlement based on the 1967 borders.
Tony Blair indicated on his trip to the Middle East that the international community would be prepared to open contacts with such a unity government - but with the proviso that it adhered to the preconditions of recognising Israel, renouncing violence, and adhering to previous agreements signed by the Fatah-led PA.Asking Hamas to accept the three preconditions is a non-starter, especially the request that they recognise the state of Israel. How can Hamas recognise a state that refuses to define her own borders? Which Israel is to be recognised? Israel with the Golan heights? Israel with her settlements and outposts?The small print of the political agreement between Mr Abbas and the Hamas Prime Minister remained unpublished. But officials on both sides suggested that it would be based on the so-called "prisoners' document" signed by a group of members from both factions last May, and the 2002 Beirut initiative, in which Arab states promised recognition of Israel in return for the latter returning to 1967 borders.
The wording of the prisoners' document envisaged a "final" two-state solution to the conflict, and if endorsed by Hamas's leadership it would be the first time the faction had formally recognised partition of what was Palestine until 1948.
With Mr Haniyeh sitting beside him, Mr Abbas said on Palestinian TV: "We have finalised the elements of the political agenda of the national unity government ... Hopefully, in the coming few days we will begin forming the government of national unity."
Tzipi Livni, Israel's Foreign Minister, reacted to Mr Abbas's announcement by urging the international community not to waver in demanding acceptance of its three preconditions and added that the main question was whether "we are seeing a real change here". The US administration said that it needed further details of the deal.
Once again we see the demand of preconditions that seem designed to ensure that no negotiation can ever take place.
Olmert yesterday also included the precondition that Hamas must first disarm. Every time some major concession is made by Hamas it appears that the Israelis manage to find another set of circumstances that render negotiation impossible.
It is being reported in Ha'aretz that:
Israel, however, is preparing a diplomatic offensive to ensure that the new government is not recognized by the international community unless the three conditions set by the Quartet are clearly met. The Quartet - the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia - has said that it will not recognize the Hamas government elected last February unless it recognizes Israel, relinquishes violence and accepts previous agreements between Israel and the PLO. Well-placed sources in Washington said that the Bush administration shares Israel's concern that the international community's stance on recognizing the Palestinian government may now depart from the conditions set by the Quartet.I'll keep watching this, but I am already filled with pessimism. The US and Israel are already preparing the way to reject any concession Hamas make, no matter how ground breaking.
And yet still US papers will report on Israel's search for "a partner in peace."
It's enough to make you despair.
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