Did Hamas Blink?
Yesterday the gamble paid off as Hamas cut its losses and decided not to face the people. It surrendered the pretence of one day conquering Israel for the reality of keeping some political power by endorsing a document, drawn up by Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails, that requires the installation of a national unity government committed to a negotiated two-state solution. Under the agreement between Mr Abbas and Hamas, the new administration will probably be led by technocrats in order to win international recognition.The document also endorses all existing agreements between the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Israel, some of which recognise the Jewish state and established the Palestinian Authority as a precursor to a two-state solution.
the guardian
It sure looks like Hamas has blinked. Whether it is the lack of any money from the donor states, the fact that Israel is not willing to put up with its soldiers being kidnapped or simply the fact that the majority of Palestinians want a two state solution, hamas seems to have backed away from fighting a referrendum which it was almost certain to lose.
Props to Mahmoud Abbas who was willing to go to the wall to keep the prospects of peace alive in the PA/Israel standoff. Now, there is a long way to go. Beginning with the release of the kidnapped Israeli soldier; but the possibility of disarming the terrorists and coming to a negotiated peace have brightened considerably.
This is a first step. But, with luck, it will allow the donor nations to let a little money flow to Abbas. It may also avert the civil war which is brewing between Hamas and Fatah - a civil war which, while richly deserved, would lead to the deaths of thousands of Palestinians for no good reason.
The Palestinians have a way forrward. I hope they take it.
Written by jay on June 28th, 2006 with
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#1. June 28th, 2006, at 11:17 PM.
“Now, there is a long way to go. Beginning with the release of the kidnapped Israeli soldier; but the possibility of disarming the terrorists and coming to a negotiated peace have brightened considerably.”
Also required: The cessation and beginnings to deconstruct the Wall, the end of Israeli security points within Palestinian territory, the release of Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails, the cessation of terrorist (in the form of air attacks) on Palestinians….
The first steps, once taken by both sides, may lead to reconcillation of the disaster that began when two thirds of the population of a British Mandate was given less than half its land… (I am coming out in disgust at the extremists on both sides and with appluads for the pragmatic rational minds on both sides.)