The New York Times reports that Fatah and Hamas are engaged in reconciliation talks.
Fatah insists that any unity government formed will be acceptable to the international community and satisfy the conditions of the so-called quartet of Middle East peace makers — the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. That means recognizing Israel’s right to exist, renouncing all violence and accepting previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements.
Whether Fatah really accepts all these things is a matter of uncertainty. It claims to have accepted them, but operates as if it hadn’t. The Palestinians regularly violate their agreements with Israel. And Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, which is affiliated with Fatah still engages in violence. Hamas though, is apparently honest.
Hamas has so far refused to accept the conditions. “How can I recognize Israel when Israel does not recognize Hamas?” asked Mr. Abu Marzouk, the senior Hamas leader.
He added that Fatah recognized Israel long ago and had still not achieved a peace deal, and that Israel still did not have fixed borders that could be recognized. He described the placing of conditions as “putting the cart in front of the horse” and “political blackmail by Israel.”
Why is it political blackmail to demand that a terrorist group lay down its arms?
But of course reconciliation is important.
But Azzam al-Ahmed, a senior Fatah official who participated in the talks, said ending the Palestinian division was also a priority for Fatah, and a prerequisite for a peace deal with Israel.
We can’t have peace unless Fatah and Hamas reconcile. How that will bring about peace when Hamas is openly opposed to Israel’s existence is an exercise best left to someone else.
Israel Matzav observes that, unsurprisingly, Hamas blames Israel for the failure to reach an agreement,
And how are things gong in “moderate” Fatahland?
I’m glad you asked.
A Palestinian court sentenced a man to death on Tuesday for selling land in the West Bank to Israelis. The court in Hebron sentenced the man, Anwat Breghit, 59, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of treason and of “selling Palestinian land to Israelis.”
The article notes that the death penalty requires the approval of “moderate” Palestinians President Abbas.
Solomonia and Elder of Ziyon have previously commented on this case, but this is nothing new:
On 5 May 1997, the Minister of Justice Freih Abu Middein announced that the PA would begin using a Jordanian law that provided the death penalty in cases of Arabs selling land to Jews.29 Before 1967, the Jordanian law specified that selling land to “foreigners” should be punished by up to 5 years in prison, with hard labor, but this law was changed in the 1980s so that the death sentence could be imposed. Jordan abolished this provision in 1997 as part of the peace process with Israel. It is therefore confusing to note that the PA uses Jordanian laws introduced after 1967, even if they subsequently were abrogated by Jordan.
Enforcement came about rather quickly and brutally.
Ali Mohammed Jumhour, 34, was the third land dealer found dead in the West Bank since the Palestinian Justice Minister, Freih Abu Medeen, was quoted on May 4 saying that Palestinians who sold land to Jews faced execution.
Abu Medein’s declaration was followed up legislatively by the Palestinian legislative council which passed a law declaring that selling land to a Jew was “high treason.” There is some question as to whether Arafat ratified the law. Still it seems to be the prevailing legal standard in the Palestinian Authority, even among the “moderate” Fatah. That’s the same organization that refuses to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Somehow getting Fatah on the same page with Hamas is supposed to bring peace even though both of them, through words and actions, demonstrate little inclination to co-exist peacefully with Israel.
Crossposted on Soccer Dad.
