Israel Matzav

How much unity?

Say what you will about the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement that was initialed earlier this week, it's definitely not a marriage.
The two parties will largely not present a united front, and what they have agreed to is a modus operandi until they can hold elections.

But some expressed scepticism about the extent of reconciliation. Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of political science at al-Azhar University in Gaza, described the agreement as "a very vague format which will allow Palestinians to speak with one voice but, at a practical level, there will remain two separate entities in the West Bank and Gaza in terms of security.

"Hamas will be able to maintain its militias and its rhetoric of resistance to Israel. There will not be many changes on the ground. Each one will be in charge of their territory," he said.

Hamas officials indicated that the organisation understood the unity agreement could be jeopardised by any militant operations.

"We have to be careful of how we respond to Israel because they will do everything to dismantle the agreement," said Ghazi Hamed, Hamas's deputy foreign minister. "It is clear that Israel does not like us. They want to divide us because it gives them more power. I expect they will try to provoke us and create chaos to put pressure on Mahmoud Abbas.

All sides admit that the agreement is the first step of a complicated process. Hamed said:

" The challenge will be to implement the agreement. If we succeed in choosing a strong PM and a strong minister of interior, we stand a better chance of success."

Abu Shahla said one consequence of the agreement would be that Fatah would be able to operate openly in Gaza for the first time since 2007 and Hamas would be able to do the same in the West Bank.

Following the signing of the deal, Abbas may make his first visit to Gaza in more than four years.

So the goal is to present a united front of sorts, at least through the UN vote in September. And then?

Israel should be rejecting this totally (as it is). The fact that the 'Palestinian Authority' refuses to even sit at a table with Israel, while it has gone and mended relations with Hamas to the extent that it is allowing Hamas terrorists to operate in Judea and Samaria speaks volumes as to Abu Mazen's true intentions.

The first immediate step that I would take is to end the security cooperation with the 'Palestinian Authority.' If they are going to allow Hamas to operate in Judea and Samaria, there is no point in any cooperation with them.

Labels: Hamas-Fatah reconciliation

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:49 AM