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04 May 2011 By Stephen Lendman On April 27, the International
Middle East Media Center headlined, "Rival Palestinian
Factions Reach Reconciliation Agreement," saying: Meeting in Cairo, Palestinian
media sources announced a Hamas - Fatah reconciliation
draft agreement, signaling hope for rapprochement
between the two sides. Both parties agreed to form a
transitional government soon. The two delegations,
headed by Fatah President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas
leader Khaled Mashaal discussed security issues and
ways to coordinate forces on both sides. They also
chose an election date, but didn't disclose it. "A Hamas official (Izzat
Ar-Rishiq) reported that all points of differences
with Fatah have been overcome....Egyptian sources said
that the two parties will be invited into Egypt soon
(for an) official signing ceremony." Egypt's official MENA news agency
confirmed "a complete understanding after talks on all
the points, including the formation of a transitional
government with a specific mandate and setting a date
for elections." Fatah delegation chief Azzam
Al-Ahmad confirmed the report, saying both sides
agreed to a "government of independents....tasked with
preparing for presidential and legislative elections
within a year." Palestinian factions welcomed the
announcement, hoping years of conflict would end.
Islamic Jihad's Khaled Al Batsh said his organization
welcomed the development, hoping implementation will
begin quickly. He also called for ending West Bank
political arrests, saying Palestinian priorities
include resistance, unity, independence, the right of
return, and Jerusalem as Palestine's capital. PLC deputy head Dr. Ahmad Bahar
called the agreement historic, thanking Egypt for
hosting and moderating important talks. Dr. Abdul-Aziz Shiqaqi, head of
Gaza's coalition of independent figures, said the deal
breaks new ground, offering a new reconciliation
phase. Khalil Assaf, representing West Bank
independent figures, called the agreement the best and
most important development this year. The Palestinian People Party
(PPP) also welcomed the deal, hoping implementation
will begin soon, as well as calling for efforts to
marshal international support for Palestinian
independence with Jerusalem its capital. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
reacted sharply, demanding Abbas: "choose between peace with Israel
or peace with Hamas. There cannot be peace with both
because Hamas strives to destroy the state of Israel
and says so openly. I think that the very idea of
reconciliation shows the weakness of the Palestinian
Authority and creates the prospect that Hamas could
retake control of Judea and Samaria just like it took
control of the Gaza Strip." Netanyahu also said all necessary
measures will be taken to continue Gaza's siege,
including blocking planned humanitarian flotillas. He and other Israeli officials
repeat the same canards, notably with regard to peace,
reconciliation, and denying Hamas' longstanding
willingness to recognize Israel in return for
Palestinian sovereignty inside pre-1967 borders, just
22% of its original homeland. In September, it now hopes the UN
General Assembly will affirm what Israel for decades
spurned, including peace to perpetuate its war agenda
based on lies and deception about Hamas threatening
its security. Getting Washington to bogusly
declare it a terrorist organization, Western media
ignore its legitimacy as Palestine's democratically
elected government, facts conveniently replaced by
spurious claims about terrorism. In other words,
twisting them to fit policy that includes on-and-off
again wars, violence, land theft, severe repression,
targeted assassinations, and violation of fundamental
international law and standards, as well as core
Judaic values, ones Israel long ago abandoned. On April 27, New York Times
writers Ethan Bronner and Isabel Kershner also covered
the story headlining, "Fatah and Hamas Announce
Outline of Deal," saying: They "create(d) an interim unity
government (and agreed to) hold elections within a
year, a surprise move that promised to reshape" the
regional diplomatic landscape. Perhaps regional
uprisings influenced the move. Also, Al Jazeera's
January released Palestine Papers. They revealed
covert PA willingness to compromise much in return for
little, amounting to de facto complicity and
unilateral surrender to Israeli demands, a shameless
betrayal like Oslo, what Edward Said called a
Palestinian Versailles. It gives pause about what PA
negotiators now have in mind. This time, however,
they're dealing with Hamas, not Israel, but that
specter remains powerfully omnipresent in lockstep
with its Washington paymaster/partner. Gaza Al-Azhar University
Professor Mkhaimar Abusada believes the PA's failure
to negotiate peace with Israel, as well as anger over
a February US Security Council resolution veto against
new settlement construction encouraged Fatah to talk. Hamas representative Moussa Abu
Marzouk said: "We have ended a painful period
in the history of the Palestinian people where
Palestinian division had prevailed. We gave the
occupation a great opportunity to expand the
settlements because of this division. Today we turn
this page and open a new" one. Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar
said both sides agreed to changes in interim PLO
leadership, a tribunal for elections, and a date. Both
sides will nominate government members, a 12-judge
election tribunal, and an oversight committee to
handle security. On April 27, Washington Post
writer Jennifer Rubin headlined, "Congress to PA: No
US aid if you merge with Hamas," saying: Florida Republican House Foreign
Affairs chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehiten (a member of
America's extremist far right) signaled ending US aid,
repeating Netanyahu's lies, saying: "The reported agreement between
Fatah and Hamas means that a Foreign Terrorist
Organization which has called for the destruction of
Israel will be part of the (PA) government. US
taxpayer funds should not and must not be used to
support those who threaten US security, our interests,
and our vital ally, Israel." New York Democrat Rep. Gary
Ackerman, a notorious pro-Israel supporter, called the
deal "a recipe for failure, mixed with violence,
leading to disaster," sounding as extremist as
Ros-Lehiten. Other members of both houses concurred,
succumbing to Israeli Lobby pressure to go along or
face recrimination in 2012. Mindful also of Israeli
support, selling their souls the price they pay keep
it. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said
Israel would only negotiate with a Palestinian unity
government that "dismantles (its) terror
infrastructures and recognizes Israel as well as past
PLO (negotiated) agreements." Israel's foreign minister,
Avigdor Lieberman, facing indictment for fraud, money
laundering, obstruction of justice, and more, said
Israel won't negotiate with the interim government,
adding: "One of the clauses of the
agreement is the release of hundreds of Hamas
prisoners from Palestinian jails, which would flood
the West Bank with armed terrorists, and the IDF must
prepare accordingly....This agreement crosses a red
line. Hamas has been defined as a terrorist
organization....in addition to the fact that it has
always been known that no talks can be held with
groups calling for Israel's destruction." Israel's president Shimon Peres
said: "The move, as it stands is a
fatal mistake," nor will Israel negotiate with a "bona
fide terrorist organization." The deal "would lead to
a regression and prevent the formation of a
Palestinian state." Through public rhetoric and
behind the scenes pressure, including through the
Israeli Lobby, Israel is going all out to prevent
reconciliation, a unity government, peace, and UN
General Assembly recognition of an independent
Palestine within 1967 borders this September. Instead it plans to stay
belligerent, choose violence over diplomacy, continue
settlement construction, keep Gaza blockaded, launch
air attacks with powerful weapons, make regular
incursions into Palestinian communities targeting
nonviolent civilians, and effectively reign daily
terror on Palestine like it's done for over six
decades, blaming victims of its own crimes, still with
world community support. As a result, it's for
Palestinians to pursue their own agenda until one day
liberated and free. A unity government and UN
membership are important steps toward it. Stephen Lendman lives in
Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished
guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the
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