As always, a slow news day in the Middle East is a good news day. Therre was one story in the Jerusalem Post when I woke up this morning that I found very interesting. Reports indicate that Hamas has offered to turn over the positions and institutions they seized from Fatah during their takeover of the Gaza Strip in return for a renewed unity government and PLO reforms.
From Jpost.com, Hamas offers Fatah renewal of Unity Government:
Hamas was prepared to cede to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas control of PA institutions and bases in the Gaza Strip, in return for a renewal of the unity government, reforms in the PLO [Palestinian Liberation Organization] and reinstating the Palestinian parliament, Israel Radio quoted a report from the pan Arab daily Asharq Alawsat as saying Wednesday.
The proposal was reportedly given by Hamas seniors to Abbas on Tuesday but the Hamas leadership was reluctant to embrace it.
A Palestinian source was quoted as saying that if Hamas leaders would become supportive of the proposal, Abbas would accept it.
I honestly can’t believe Abbas would take this deal. This would essentially amount to a return to the status quo ante. Instead, Abbas should use this opportunity to wait-out Hamas and just win.
Hamas’ terms are only likely to soften if made to wait. They have already seen a dramatic decline in its internal an international standing in the wake of its coup in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian polls once again show Fatah with a commanding lead over Hamas in a hypothetical electoral match up.
Further still, Abbas – who was once considered extremely weak – is growing in strength both in negotiations with Israel and within Palestinian politics. His strength enables him to continue to isolate Hamas and strike back at Islamic militants – as evidenced by the shootout in Jenin to protect an IDF major and the shutdown of 103 charities associated with Hamas that I wrote about yesterday. Instead of surrendering this position of strength for almost nothing, Abbas should continue to isolate Hamas in an effort to improve the terms of its relative surrender. Abbas could use the opportunity to demand Hamas’ disarmament among other things. Let’s hope he doesn’t cave too soon.
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