A definite blow - Haaretz

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Mon., November 26, 2007 Kislev 16, 5768

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Last update - 22:43 25/11/2007

A definite blow

By Avi Issacharoff

Tags: Annapolis, Hamas, Israel

Thus far, the biggest achievement of the Annapolis conference appears to be the damage it has done to Hamas. The announcement that Arab foreign ministers will attend the conference has bolstered the political standing of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

For Abbas, the Arab League's participation is an important achievement: The Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and perhaps even Syria, will be at his side, while Hamas will remain alone in Gaza, isolated from the international forum where the fate of the Palestinian people is being discussed. Not for nothing did a Hamas spokesman say yesterday that "the Arab foreign ministers' decision is a definite blow to the Palestinians, because it opens the door to normalization of relations with the occupation, despite its growing aggression."

Even Hamas' planned alternative summit in Damascus has had to relocate to Gaza. Abbas will once again be the leader who represents the Palestinian people, while Hamas will be relegated to the status of a terrorist organization rife with internal divisions.

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But Abbas' achievement could have negative consequences on the ground. Thus far, Hamas has refrained from interfering with a summit it viewed as likely to fail. But now that Arab foreign ministers will be gracing it with their presence, Hamas is liable to cast off restraint and start launching terror attacks.

The impressive Arab presence at the conference could have other negative effects as well. First, it is liable to constrain Abbas' ability to display flexibility toward Israel. When Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal declares that he will not engage in gestures such as shaking hands with Israeli leaders, the atmosphere at the meeting seems likely to become one of ganging up on Israel. And Arab ministers are liable to use their speeches to try to show their publics that despite having come to Annapolis, they remain as "patriotic" - i.e. hardline - as ever.

Meanwhile, the chances of a joint Israeli-Palestinian statement emerging from the conference look slim. And without such a declaration, Israel will find itself even more vulnerable to Arab criticism at the conference.

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1.	And what happens to Abbas if he cannot deliver anything?	22:58	\|	Mark B.	25/11/07

2.	Avi... Moderate arabs coming to the summit is one thing...BUT	00:37	\|	Hussein	26/11/07

3.	Abbas does not even represent all Fatah	01:14	\|	Nada	26/11/07

4.	#1 Mark "what happens to Abbas ?"	02:13	\|	keith	26/11/07

5.	Summit	02:58	\|	Barney Panofsky	26/11/07

6.	Hamas and Resistance will get the last life	05:05	\|	Abu Ali	26/11/07

7.	Why so pessimistic?	07:19	\|	Smadar	26/11/07

8.	Damage to Hamas? Are you crazy?	07:44	\|	Natallie Durson	26/11/07

9.	Hamas`s reaction is clear; but I hope I am wrong.	08:57	\|	S	26/11/07

10.	ANNAPOLIS	11:24	\|	joe	26/11/07

11.	Forget Hamas, ask every other Palistinian	12:32	\|	Palestinian	26/11/07

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