Palestinian Unity: Done Deal or Wobbly? Major Hurdles To
Overcome
05 May 2011By Stephen Lendman
In late April, Fatah and Hamas announced a
reconciliation draft agreement, including a
transitional government and planned presidential and
legislative elections within a year.
It signaled hope for rapprochement between the two
sides, as well as better prospects for Palestinian
independence within 1967 borders, UN membership,
achieving peace, and ending Israel's 44 year
occupation. However, fulfillment faces long odds
without strong Western backing, unlikely to surface
given determined Israeli and Washington pressure to
subvert it.
Despite unresolved issues between the two sides, AFP
writer Nasser Abu Bakr headlined on May 3,
"Palestinian factions sign unity deal in Cairo,"
saying:
"Representatives of 13 factions (including Fatah and
Hamas), as well as independent political (groups),
inked the deal following talks with Egyptian
officials."
According to PLO member Bilal Qassem, "All the
Palestinian factions signed the document at a meeting
with Egyptian intelligence officials."
Palestine People's Party member Walid al-Awad said:
"We signed the deal despite several reservations. But
we insisted on working for the higher national
interest. We have discussed all the reservations.
Everyone has agreed to take these points into
consideration."
At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
denounced it, calling it "a hard blow to the peace
process" he fundamentally rejects as a waste of time
based on earlier comments.
Of course, signing ceremonies are one thing,
commitment and follow through another, as well as fine
print deal details. More on them below.
On May 4, Haaretz writers Jack Khoury and Avi
Issacharoff headlined, "Report: Fatah-Hamas unity deal
delayed over Palestinian Authority foreign policy,"
saying:
At issue is "Abbas' insistence that he be the sole
speaker at the (formal ceremony). This move allegedly
implies his expect(ation) to be the" the interim
government's head of state, letting him control
Palestinian foreign policy and other key issues.
Fatah supports negotiating Israel's version of peace,
what Hamas opposes knowing what's agreed won't be
equitable. Nonetheless, its leaders, including Khaled
Mashaal and Ismail Haniyah, are willing to recognize
Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state within
1967 borders, just 22% of their original homeland, a
deal Israel rejects.
Updating their article, Khoury and Issacharoff said
Abbas and Mashaal both spoke at the ceremony, Mashaal
saying:
"Hamas was ready to pay any price for internal
Palestinian reconciliation. The only battle of the
Palestinians is against Israel. Our aim is to
establish a free and completely sovereign Palestinian
state on the West Bank and Gaza strip, whose capital
is Jerusalem, without any settlers and without giving
up a single inch of land and without giving up on the
right of return."
Abbas signaled turning a page, saying:
"Four black years have affected the interests of
Palestinians. Now we meet to assert a unified will.
Israel is using the Palestinian reconciliation as an
excuse to evade (peace. It) must choose between peace
and settlement."
Based on his long history as a collaborationist
Israeli ally, it remains to be seen how serious Abbas
is about a new page, one never previously turned,
especially given what he'll lose by trying.
Netanyahu's response to the Cairo ceremony highlights
what's at stake, saying:
"What happened today in Cairo is a tremendous blow to
peace and a great victory for terrorism," signaling
his intent to subvert unity and independence
aspirations by any means perhaps including deeper
repression and conflict.
However, Haaretz writer Barak Ravid's May 4 article
headlined, "Israel Foreign Ministry views Hamas-Fatah
deal differently than Netanyahu," saying:
A confidential ministry report says "a Fatah-Hamas
unity government in the Palestinian Authority would
offer Israel a strategic opportunity" for genuine
change to serve Israel's long-term interests.
Prepared by career policy planning diplomats, it's at
odds with hardline Foreign Minister Avigdor
Lieberman's opposition. Earlier he said Israel won't
negotiate with an interim government because the
"agreement crosses a red line," bogusly calling Hamas
"a terrorist organization (committed to) Israel's
destruction."
By now, it should be a totally discredited accusation.
Yet it's repeated by Israeli and US officials,
supporting isolation, occupation, land theft, mass
arrests, targeted assassinations, torture, settlement
construction, and conflict, not viable reconciliation
and peace. Hoping they'll now turn a page is very much
betting against long odds.
Nonetheless, the ministry report says:
"Israel must be a team player and coordinate its
response to a Palestinian unity government with the
administration. This will empower the United States
and serve Israeli interests....We must avoid
expressions or moves that will weaken Israel against
the Palestinians in the international arena,
especially in view of the strategic challenges that
are expected during the year."
Major Hurdles to Overcome
Besides longstanding Israeli and Washington
obstructionism, as well as reconciling divergent Fatah
- Hamas positions, the deal's fine print raises
questions. On April 3, Electronic Intifada co-founder
Ali Abunimah discussed them, including:
(1) Elections
At issue is holding them "within the framework of the
(discredited) Oslo Accords," restricting them to the
West Bank and Gaza as now constituted. It also
recognizes Abbas as president even though his term
expired over two years ago, giving him no legitimacy.
Moreover, it leaves unexplained how free elections are
possible as long as Israel and Washington designate
Hamas (Palestine's 2006 democratically elected
government) a terrorist organization. Nothing is
mentioned to change this or end both sides political
repression of the other.
In addition, letting all Palestinians, not just those
in Gaza and the West Bank, participate in future
elections remains a key unmet demand.
(2) PLO Status
Agreement language appears to "give authority to the
Abbas-controlled PLO to continue recognizing Israel
and engag(e) in the peace process charade which Hamas
formally rejects." Reform or democratization issues
aren't mentioned.
(3) Security
Vague language "seems to restore (Abbas' legitimacy)
as 'president' in the eyes of Hamas." Moreover, ending
Fatah-Israeli collaborationist "security coordination"
was unaddressed. It suggests less than "true
integration of Palestinian armed groups," leaving each
side in charge of its respective areas, an arrangement
no different than now except in name.
(4) Formation of the Government
Reports suggesting replacing Fatah's appointed prime
minister Salam Fayyad with billionaire Munib al-Masri
would assure continuation of destructive neoliberal
policies without democratic or popular accountability.
If so, Palestine will stay colonized like today.
(5) Legislative Council
At issue is whether Hamas officials can govern under
threat of Israeli arrest, imprisonment or
assassination. As a result, both sides may leave
current arrangements in place, while rhetorically
claiming unity. If so, it amounts to solidarity in
name only.
As of April 15, "Israel still held 13 (elected Hamas)
members of the legislative council" illegally in
prison, and continues harassing and detaining other
Palestinian officials. Specific guarantees must assure
this ends.
Moreover, unity problem resolution commitments lack
specifics. Apparently, Hamas and Fatah are reconciled
to governing under Oslo Authority that ignores key
Palestinian rights and demands, including refugees,
the occupation, and Jerusalem as a future capital,
among others.
In other words, unity is meaningless if everything
changes but stays the same. Israel and Washington
intend to keep it that way.
As a result, exclusive of political divisions (among
Fatah, Hamas and other groups), Palestinian solidarity
must struggle independently for liberation and peace
under democratic governance freed from occupation.
Rest assured, growing millions worldwide support it.
A previous article explained the announced deal,
accessed through the following link:
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2011/04/palestinian-unity-deal-announced.html
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
Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and
Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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