Israel Matzav

Pigs fly: US will not 'engage' with Hamas

This calls for the flying pig:

In a meeting in Cairo on Saturday Night, US Special Middle East envoy George Mitchell told Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman that the United States will not support an agreement between Hamas and Fatah that does not adhere to the quartet principles (recognition of Israel's 'right to exist,' disavowal of terrorism, acceptance of prior agreements). In other words, unlike Iran and its efforts with Syria, the United States will not 'engage' unconditionally with Hamas.

According to the agreement, which was supposed to have been signed by Thursday, Abbas was to issue a presidential decree no later than October 25, scheduling both parliamentary and presidential elections for June 28. Eighty percent of the delegates to the Palestinian parliament were to be elected by party basis, and 20 percent by constituency.

A special committee with delegates from all factions was supposed to have assumed control of the Gaza Strip, reporting to Abbas. The Strip was also to see a new security force, staffed with members of all Palestinian factions.

Sources told Haaretz that Mitchell made clear to the Egyptians on Saturday the United States expects any Palestinian government to follow the conditions of the Quartet, which include recognition of the State of Israel, acknowledging earlier agreements and renouncing terrorism.

Mitchell also said certain aspects of current agreement were poorly timed as they would undermine relaunching negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

The administration official said that the United States would continue to oppose those aspects of the agreement at any time. He noted American views on Palestinian governance have been made clear to the Egyptians several times.

It's curious that Barak Ravid - who wrote this article - seems to be assuming that this means that the Fatah-Hamas agreement will not be signed. That's an awfully big assumption. In the past, there have been suggestions that the US would deal only with Fatah elements in a Fatah-Hamas government and thereby sidestep the requirement that Hamas comply with the quartet demands. In the event that Fatah and Hamas go ahead and sign the agreement over the United States' objections, I would look for that proposal to be dusted off.

Nevertheless, the flying pig is appropriate for this post. The fact that Mitchell said no to Suleiman shows that there are some things that are threatening to Jews - not many things but some things - that are even beneath Obama's moral standards.

What could go wrong?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:42 AM