Hamas and Fatah agree to hold talks
We already know from a recent article in Vanity Fair that it was Bush's spectacular incompetence - and complete inability to accept a democratic decision which he disagreed with - which resulted in Hamas seizing the Gaza Strip ahead of an attempt by Bush to prepare Fatah for civil war in the Palestinian territories.
Now, no doubt much to Bush's chagrin, Hamas and Fatah are said to be embracing a Yemeni sponsored deal to bring reconciliation between the two sides.
Hamas are demanding that any talks include the West Bank and not simply Gaza, as Hamas were the party who won the election which both Israel and the US refused to accept the result of."We, the representatives of Fatah and Hamas, agree to the Yemeni initiative as a framework to resume dialogue between the two movements to return the Palestinians' situation to what it was before the Gaza incidents," their joint declaration said.
Within hours, however, the Fatah leadership had issued a statement saying it was not content simply to discuss the broader Yemeni initiative – which envisages new elections, the creation of a government of national unity and the reform of the Palestinian security forces along national rather than factional lines. "The points of the Yemeni initiative are very clear. We want to implement them, not dialogue about them," Fatah said.
Mr Abbas's chief negotiator, Saeb Erakat, was adamant that Hamas must agree to end its control of the Strip before any dialogue could take place. He said: "Article No 1 calls on Hamas to rescind its coup and accept its obligations to the Palestine Liberation Organisation. If Hamas accepts this, then we can talk about a new page. If Hamas does not accept this, there won't be talks."
Accepting obligations to the PLO means endorsing the 1993 Oslo accords and negotiating with Israel for a two-state solution to the Palestinian problem. Hamas, which views the whole of historic Palestine as a Muslim domain, has consistently refused to do anything of the kind, though it is hinting at a long-term cessation of violence if Israel reciprocates.
I also note that Abbas is adopting the neo-con trick that your opponent must give up everything before negotiations can take place, which sort of renders the whole idea of negotiations as meaningless.
Hamas are insisting that Fatah reinstate the unity government which existed before Fatah's failed coup was preempted. This will put the cat amongst the pigeons as both Bush and Olmert have made clear that they have no intention of dealing with Hamas under any circumstances.
Dick Cheney arrived in Ramallah yesterday and made very clear that the US has no intention of allowing Hamas to re-enter the Palestinian government.Ghassan Khatib, a Palestinian commentator, welcomed the Sanaa agreement but cautioned against pinning any great hopes on it. He said: "The only significance is that it indicates that the two sides are willing to talk, to engage. This is new. But the differences are huge. It will take high-level involvement of Arab states to move things forward.
"I [hope] the Americans and the Israelis will stop vetoing a serious dialogue and the possible resumption of joint government."
Referring indirectly to Hamas, he added: "It also will require a determination to defeat those who are committed to violence and who refuse to accept the basic rights of the other side to exist."
Once again the Bush administration attempt to make progress, but only if all the players will agree to see the world as they would like it to be rather than as how it actually is. Eight years of this bullshit is enough already.
Both Hamas and Fatah know that this sad little man will soon be ushered from the world stage. They will simply wait him out.
Bush's plans for peace in the Middle East, like his plans for a newly democratic Afghanistan and Iraq, lie like ashes on the floor, as perfect examples of a failed presidency.
Click title for full article.
No comments:
Post a Comment