Kadima warms to Mofaz plan for Hamas talks, despite Livni opposition
Kadima MKs demanding a discussion of plan; Mofaz to try to advance his initiative in the U.S. next week.
By Haaretz Service and Mazal Mualem Tags: Shaul Mofaz Hamas Middle East peace Israel newsKadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni on Tuesday slammed party rival Shaul Mofaz' plan to open negotiations with Hamas in order to push forth the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying the concept ran contrary to their faction's political platform.
While Livni would prefer to ignore the initiative of her number 2, however, she will not be able to avoid the issue for very long, as Kadima MKs are demanding a serious discussion of Mofaz's proposal.
Mofaz has already asked Livni to hold a discussion on his proposal to establish a Palestinian state - with temporary borders on 60 percent of the West Bank - within a year. He dropped another bombshell by saying he would also be willing to negotiate with Hamas, as long as the organization agrees to the Quartet's conditions and changes its agenda.
Kadima's weekly Knesset faction meeting was canceled Tuesday due to Livni's trip to the General Assembly of North American Jewish Federations in Washington.
In the meantime, Mofaz has already met with U.S. Ambassador to Israel James B. Cunningham and laid out his proposals - in the hope they will find their way to the U.S. administration and even President Barack Obama. Mofaz will travel to the United States next Monday and try to advance his initiative with members of Congress and others.
Mofaz's plan, announced on Sunday, is gathering support in Kadima, partly because it presents the party as an opposition with initiative.
However, his initiative will get in Livni's way, as she supports the Annapolis process. Still, senior Kadima MKs say Livni will have no choice but to discuss the proposal.
Livni views Mofaz's initiative as a political move, and is expected to say that establishing a temporary Palestinian state before reaching a permanent peace agreement is a mistake, and that the framework laid out at Annapolis is the way to proceed.
Mofaz recently asked for a legal opinion as to whether he was allowed to meet with Hamas officials, Channel 10 reported on Monday, but he has yet to receive an answer.
A number of Kadima MKs, some of whom supported Livni in her primary fight against Mofaz, support discussing his proposal. These include Shai Hermesh, Marina Solodkin and Yohanan Plesner - who were among the party members shown Mofaz's proposals before he went public with them.
"This is an interesting plan and should be discussed seriously inside Kadima and elsewhere," said Hermesh. He added that the foundation of the plan is what differentiates Kadima from the Likud. However, a number of former ministers in Kadima criticized the plan, including Roni Bar-On, Jacob Edery and Avi Dichter.
Mofaz prepared to 'talk to the devil' himself
According to Israel Radio, Mofaz said Monday that he was willing to "talk to the devil himself if that's what will bring peace."
In recent years, Mofaz has vehemently rejected any contact with the Islamist Hamas, who violently seized control over the Gaza Strip in a bloody coup in 2007. In a complete turnaround, Mofaz told Israel Radio Monday that if Hamas is voted to power in the upcoming elections - scheduled for January - he is willing to negotiate with them.
The former IDF chief of staff also told Channel 10 that "if Hamas officials, whose leaders I've killed, want to meet with me, I'll talk to them."
He criticized Netanyahu's lack of action toward peace, saying "my diplomatic plan is open to adjustments and criticism, but at least I presented some kind of plan. During Netanyahu's term, even that wasn't done."
According to Channel 10, Mofaz is currently reviewing the legal implications of meeting with Hamas officials, and whether it would be legally permitted, as Hamas is classified as a terror organization that is hostile to Israel.
Another problem facing a possible meeting is the location. The meeting is likely to take place in neutral territory, outside Israel and Gaza.
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Mofaz will sell his grandmother if the polls show that it will help him get elected to lead Kadima and possibly Israel.
How about talking to Fayyad who has a plan of his own?
I think Bush made a mistake in not speaking to Hamas. Although Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood is outlawed in Eqypt, AKP is the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey. So while you did not offend Egypt by not talking to Hamas or taking a military action in Gaza, I think you offended AKP in Turkey. So talk to Hamas; use Erdogan as a broker, whatever; they may be the same party. I don't know the future of AKP or Erdogan, but while they are in power, I think you have to include Hamas, and actions in Gaza will be taken personally in Turkey. This is my impression; why you are losing Turkey; not as an ally perhaps but cooler relations.
A courageous thinking ,in such approach peace can be built.
I'm afraid this is going to be a repeat of peace process with PLO: Negotiations Deal Few years of relative calm Flare up Conflict: HAMAS will be a moderate Palestinian faction (like Fateh/PLO)while Islamic Jihad is the new HAMAS Repeat if necessary.
There is a good possibility that Hamas forms the next Palestinian government and that the conflict promptly hots up. It would seem a good time to be speaking to them to see what if any accord might be reached. The fact that Netanyahu's coalition wants no negotiation, no flexibility and nothing to get in the way of its Greater Israel plan is just a make believe, head-in-the-sand policy that will ultimately fail. As with Serbia in Kosovo and similar. Wiser heads will need to prevail and serious efforts be made to reach some agreement. The only option on the table cannot be intifada, air strikes, suicide bombs and civilian deaths but that is where Israeli policy is leading. Mofaz's 60% of territory is a joke and will never fly, but it sounds like his opening bid for phase 1. It all depends what he offering as the end-game final status, we don't know that yet. All the more reason to start talking informally to Hamas - if they'll listen.
Either peace now with two staes or peace later with one state. What's it gonna be? All of it is just words until Israel does something good for peace, which it still seems incapable of. Mofaz may or may not be the one to do this but no other leader has spoken so pragmatically.
Hamas is upkept by Iran to kill Israelis and deceive Pals under their rule, nothing else. It's like talking to a rocket launching robot programmed to stop when it sees a Palestinian flag waves on all of the official buildings.
Mofaz why didnt you talk to hamas when they where legaly democratically elected in 2006??
assassinated their leader, Sheikh Yasin, in his wheel chair... but then, it's never too late to repent. Seriously speaking, I believe it's a brave move and I hope he will get the support and momentum he needs. Maybe he is not doing it for the chair, maybe he is doing it for the good of Israel.
A fourteen justice panel in 2004 said Palestin-ian officials should not accept Israel's facts on the ground and said Israel should "void" all its structures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. So there's no argument there -just compliance with the justices' ruling. Dutch
This retired General follows the well established path in Israel by turning into a politician.But he lack luster and his rank is at best in the mid to low. Israel feel so powerful due to western unshaken backing that it can afford playing with time. But, Hamas and true freedom fighters are not impressed by these baloons with or without colors.. Do not assume that Arabs and Muslims are waiting for the generosity of Israel or the US, Those who are doing the begging are the servers and collaborators of Israel.Freedom and self determination of the oppressed and victimized Palestinians are bound to come.
the first guy on the planet to suggest something outside the box.....like myb talking to the enemy...mofaz desreves a medal
while its true that he at least has a plan to propose, it's also true that insulting the intelligence of the palestinians isn't likely to go very far. realistically, any "plan" that doesn't approach 100% is ridiculous. it's like a thief, caught with ten stolen sheep, telling his victim "okay here; how about i give you back 6 and we'll call it even, with no hard feelings?".
"Not a part of Israel`s democratically elected coalition government, who does Mofaz think he represents?" - Steve He is representing sanity . He is trying to get ahead of the situation which is rapidly developing. Isael's leader, Netanyahu, chose to destroy any hope of a negotiated peace. Abbas chose to resign and this will mean a Hamas controlled PA as soon as his resignation is official. Netanyahu was not bight enough to see where his idiocy was leading. Mofaz, unlike Netanyahu, is at leastthinking ahead of his next emotional impulse.
Not a part of Israel's democratically elected coalition government, who does Mofaz think he represents? His "negotiations with the devil" are not binding and only serve to provide Hamas with the legitimacy it does not deserve. From self-imposed political exile, Kadima's Livni and Mofaz rival one another in their bombastic pronouncements desperately seeking relevance.
So what is wrong with talking to anyone who is willing to talk to us. Hamas won't talk to Mofaz- that would be like recognizing Israel. Since when was it Israeli policy not to talk to anyone who would talk to us? Only in the last few years was this made into a policy.
The only really brave and visionary Israeli leader nowadays it seems... I do wish him luck
amasing, israel like america creates oppositions to those they dislike, then when they abandon them they wonder shy they turn, it's like backstabing your won wife in a way.
Is this all one big show? Is it real? The Pals might declare statehood soon - Abbas is stepping down - Hamas might legally take the leadership if that happens - Bibi runs to the US - and now, Israeli officials start brainstorming publicly about what to do? Does Israel have no solid grip on the situation with the US...or to they have such a solid grip, that these moves by officials like Mofaz are the cover for prearranged agreements or a sell to the Israeli people?
First win an election or join the elected governmment, then maybe, just maybe, you can claim to represent the Israeli people in negotiation. Otherwise negotiate with the devil for your own soul, not our future.
I don't think hamas will talk to Mofaz. Biggest reason is that hamas would no longer be true to itself talking with one of the Satins. I don't know what can beome of the talks even if hamas said O.K. Hamas won't recognize Israel and the price for Shalit will stay prohibitive. Not much else to talk about.
as prone to love his athlete's foot. But it gains him media attention, while Livni seems to have exchanged politics for silk painting or home pottery.
Someone that is willing to speak to the enemy. If nothing else at least we will know the position of Hamas openly. If not agreeable the 2 sides can continue to fight till a bloody conclusion.
I imagine his gesture will be seen as ultimate betrayal and he could be arrested if he meets with Hamas. It would be like the US meeting with Bin Laden etal. If the PA falls with Abbas someone better do something fast that's for sure.
Can you trust him?
Mofaz seems to have enough snap to try and get ahead of the developing situation. If Abbas steps down before the election, his replacement will be from Hamas.
Even if coming from a unlikely source, and likely little more than a political "prank", this is the sort of thing that should be encouraged. Sometime a snowball started rolling develops into a giant ball that can't be stopped.
Iran, Hamas' patron, has been consistently strengthened by Obama's stances during 2009. Iran is toughening its bullying in every realm, and right now, with Goldstone and the rest, Hamas is strengthened, and it doesn't need any face-lifting by talking to Israel. Mofaz has to be commended for his efforts, but this one is doubtful to be the best course for Israel.
Sharon and now Mofaz.