Israel Matzav

Abu Bluff offers Hamas an olive branch

In response to mass demonstrations by both of their constituents, 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen has offered to visit Gaza and Hamas has invited Abu Mazen to visit.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas offered to visit the Gaza Strip in the coming days to discuss with Hamas leaders ending four years of divided rule that has stymied Palestinian politics and complicated a peace deal with Israel.

After Mr. Abbas's offer Wednesday, the Islamist militant group repeated its invitation to Mr. Abbas, raising hopes for a revival of unity negotiations and for the first return of the Palestinian president to Gaza since Hamas overran the coastal territory in June 2007—a potential breakthrough in the parties' bitter rivalry. However, there was no immediate indication of a date for the summit, and Hamas officials said such a visit would take time to organize. And there weren't any signs of new flexibility on power sharing disputes between the sides.

...

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh Tuesday said he would meet Abbas in Gaza or anywhere else. On Wednesday, Mr. Abbas told leaders of his secular Fatah party, which runs the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, that he could visit as early as Thursday, said Munib Masri, a Palestinian businessman who was there. Mr. Abbas also pledged again not to seek re-election.

A Gaza visit "will create big momentum'' for Palestinian unity, Mr. el-Masri said. "We'll have a government with one address and one country. God has answered my prayers today.''

In Israel, the government is downplaying the possibility.

An Israeli official said that Palestinian reconciliation, while important for the peace process, was unlikely. "Will Hamas give the PA a foothold in Gaza? I'll believe it when I see it,'' the official said.

The point isn't whether the visit actually takes place. The point is that the 'moderate' Abu Mazen and his good terrorists from Fatah are far more interested in negotiating with he bad terrorists from Hamas than they are in making peace with Israel. That should tell you all you need to know about the 'peace process.'

Labels: Abu Mazen, Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, Ismail Haniyeh

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:47 AM