Netanyahu presses for U.S. action over Fatah-Hamas deal
Israel is expected to demand that the international community boycott the new Palestinian government if it does not meet the conditions the Quartet has set for Hamas.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel news Benjamin Netanyahu Middle East peacePrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted Thursday in discussions with a visiting delegation of U.S. Congress members that the United States should consider stopping economic aid to the Palestinian Authority if a Hamas-Fatah unity government did not recognize Israel and renounce terror.
Netanyahu also told the seven U.S. lawmakers that Israel would not recognize a Palestinian unity government if it did not meet these conditions. “Israel would not recognize any government in the world that included members from Al-Qaida,” Netanyahu said.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu |
| Photo by: Nir Keidar |
Speaking to the American legislators, Netanyahu quoted remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in April 2009, that Israel would not hold talks with or economically support a Palestinian government, including Hamas, until Hamas recognized Israel and abandoned violence.
Senior government officials familiar with the details of yesterday’s meeting of the septet said the main decision was to launch a diplomatic campaign, with particular emphasis on the European Union, to thwart international recognition of the unified Fatah-Hamas government.
Intelligence officials told the septet that Hamas had agreed to sign a reconciliation agreement with Fatah out of Hamas’ fears over the implications for its organization in light of the riots in Syria.
Joining the ministers at the meeting were Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, MI chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi and senior figures in the Mossad and the Shin Bet security service.
The MI officials told the ministers that Hamas is worried about the instability of the regime in Syria, which it considers the patron of the organization (Hamas’ headquarters is in Damascus). Hamas’ alliance with Bashar Assad has been harshly criticized in the Arab world.
Israel is expected to demand that the international community boycott the new government if it does not meet the conditions the Quartet has set for Hamas.
After Hamas won a majority in the 2006 elections to the Palestinian parliament, the Quartet − consisting of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations − demanded that Hamas recognize Israel and existing agreements and renounce terror in exchange for international recognition.
Foreign Ministry Director General Rafael Barak sent a classified cable to Israel’s ambassadors to the EU, directing them to to make clear that Israel expects European leaders not to automatically release statements welcoming the Palestinian unity government.
“Hamas is a terror organization and the demand must first be made that it meet the conditions of the Quartet,” he wrote.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak yesterday said Israel asked its friends in the world not to talk to Hamas, unless the group undergoes “deep and fundamental changes” by dismantling its terror infrastructure and accepting the Quartet’s conditions.
In an interview yesterday on Army Radio, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for sanctions against the PA, such as withholding tax revenues. However, senior officials in Jerusalem and the septet have decided for now not to take punitive steps against the PA but rather to wait for clarification about the platform of a new Palestinian government.
Most of the European announcements about the Palestinian unity government emerging yesterday did not include the Israeli demands. European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said the European Union has long been calling for internal Palestinian reconciliation.
The German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, said in a statement that Hamas is “not a dialogue partner for us because we don’t work with organizations that fight with violence against Israel’s right to exist.”
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You have not renounced expanding your colonies yet!
That Palestinian reconciliation could be a secret accord between Abbas and Israel to avoid western countries to accept a Palestinian state in september and that without Abbas losing face.
what is that israel wants..? how can they reject that palestinain reconcile and prepare for free elections../? They aborted every efforts for paeace w PA and now reject this..? what is theier plan for peace..? do they want PA to negotiate for ever while they grab more land..? They should encourage peaceful efforts not the contrary if they are sincere but it seems they are not
A PLO-Hamas "unity goverfnment" will be treated by Israel exactly as it now treats Gaza - total embargo, cut off of all but essential food and minimal electricity and fuel. Cancellation of water sharing, And...no flotillas are going to come floating down the JOrdan River!
will break the siege soOn!
You all buy into this nonsense that Israel can't/won't/shouldn't negotiate with the PA, when the simple trth is that Israel has N.E.V.E.R. negotiated any final status issues with the PA. All final status negotiations are strictly an affair between (a) Israel and (b) the PLO. Always has been. Always will be. So this hysterical over-reaction from Israel regarding the makeup of the PA "unity govt" is merely an attempt to blow smoke up your collective asses.
Just ask for the US to cut all aid to the Palestinian Authority and to UNRWA. Then with no US, EU or other aid, there will be no pressure to do anything. The PA can dissolve itself with no funding and Israel can run everything again. What could be better Bibi? Israel can run the schools or not have them. Israel can again do all the policing or contract it out or do it with the IDF. No need for Palestinian police or firefighters or doctors or hospitals unless Israel wants to have them,. What could be better. And all those textbooks you always have complaints about - burn 'em. You can make them use yours or have none, your choice. Isn't this the Likud DREAM come true?
I wouldn't work with either Fatah or Hamas and togather is even worse!. Why would you want peace with a group that doesn't even see your right to exist....
United Palestinian government; UN declaration of a Palestinian State on pre:67 borders is not far away; recognition of Palestinian State by more Governments and Israel will have its separate State and a chance of survival. Israelis should be grateful to the Palestinians because the only other outcome was a one state solution with a Palestinian majority which is not likely to be called Israel.
"the main decision was to launch a diplomatic campaign, with particular emphasis on the European Union". Ideed true. So press as haaaard as you can, Bibi, and then mull the implications when you make no headway whatsoever.
Endorse the new state and have Abbas running the WB as a state, or hand it over to Hamas by showing the Palestinian people that there is nothing to be gained from negotiations.
American and Israeli policies helped make Hamas strong and caused the split later on. The Palestinians should continue working on unity. What has America done for the Palestinians in a positive way, anyway? Do your best... You will succeed.
Israel is not the center of the universe, and in fact it's becoming increasingly irrelevant. No wonder you have your knickers in a twist over the upcoming flotilla, the unification of Fateh and Hamas, and now the opening of the Rafah Gate. It's not all about you.
Vastly entertaining and delusional. Israel will destroy Hamas because Hamas leaves Israel no choice.
"Israel will destroy Hamas because Hamas leaves Israel no choice." Riiiiight. Israel has been attempting to "destroy Hamas" for over two decades now. How's it going along, Stephen?
And how many Israelis will die in the process? And if by odd luck Israel actually "destroys" Hamas, exactly what will replace it? Hint 1 - it will NOT be Fatah. Hint 2 - the leader of the group that will replace Hamas is living a very comfortable life in Pakistan after he rearranged some real estate in NYC and humiliated the US in Afghanistan (just like he humiliated the Soviet Union in the same place). "Destroying" Hamas would cause Israel even more problems than it already has.
He wants his masters advise on the matter.
Obviously both sides need to recognize the other and renounce violence (terror.)
The US will shut off all funding to the PA and UNRWA and arrange for the West to do the same. The Palestinian schools will close, the police will go home, the fire fighters will stop working. Doctors and hospitals will close and then Israel will decide how to set up a new occupation government. Or the Israeli government will defer to Iranian funding of the Palestinian government as it did before with Gaza,. What is the big deal? Why all the angst? We've already seen this episode. Or maybe the PA will just cease to exist and the IDF will again be the defacto government. Calling up the reserves can't be all that hard. Israel can run a deficit just like the US has. What's a few hundred Billion dollars. Bush and the neocons told us, "deficits don't matter." Look at the bright side. Israel gets to run all the mosques and set up the education system to educate them all to be good Israeli Zionists. And Israel will get to decide who works and who eats. You can even force convert them. This is the ultimate right wing dream. You're right on the cusp. And there will be nothing to complain about because you call all the shots. What more could the Israeli government want?
and keep Aemrica pure, white, protestant (WASP) Mosques will be closed, Moslems will be converted to Christianity immigarttion to US from non white populated countries will be eliminated... Thats Tea parties and Congressman Ron Pauls dream to come true in 2012. Ron Paul, the long-term Texas congressman, is expected to announce in Iowa that he will form an exploratory committee to pave the way for his becoming an official candidate for president in the 2012 Republican primary race. Paul first ran for president in 1988 on the Libertarian Party ticket America for Whites as it should be
precisely for the fact that we have seen it all before, again and again, the world is now sick and tired of the old tricks. It won't work this time. Netanyahu, get used to the idea that Hamas is here to stay!
Who want to destroy Israel. What is there to talk about?
Hamas seeks to defend Palestinians. That is there concern. Palestinians who have been dispossessed and demonised. Abbas is a puppet of Israel and the US. ... sadly.
Rachel the only thing which can destroy Israel is Israel and its policies. The Palestinians are powerless and even when they have an independent state and their own army they would still not have the arms or backing Israel would have.
Right now I'd go with the higher powers in Jerusalem. Be quiet and watch the goings on. Maybe Fatah and Hamas will not be able to work together; that is their history. Bashar Assad, I believe, is targeted for removal just as is Qaddafi. If Assad falls what will become of Hamas? Be patient, there is much afoot
as the fundamental aim is for the Palestinians to have one voice which represents their objective in reaching a peace agreement with Israel and the factions in Gaza won't restructure possibly until there's progress between Israeli-Palestinian in negotiations. So far, neither has anything to do with each other regarding diplomatic talks, but prisoner exchanges and complete halt to all use of violence should be the immediate concern before Hamas can even be included in any peace talks. With indirect involvement through the PA, the Israeli government has not much to do with Hamas at this time. Only the PA has demonstrated democratic processes being implemented and administration in advancing the establishment of the Palestinian state, unlike the other factions.
There never has been, and there never will be. The PA simply does not have the mandate to negotiate a treaty with Israel. It never has, and it never will. Since 1993 Israel has negotiated with the PLO on all final status issues. A.L.W.A.Y.S. This hysteria regarding the makeup of the PA is simply smoke and mirrors, precisely because the PA sits on the sidelines when the big decisions are being decided upon. Always has, always will.
Hamas, which openly calls for Israel's destruction, teams up with Abbas, whose greatest scholarly achievement is a Holocaust denial paper, and who was actively involved in the planning of massacres of jews, including the Olympic murders. Now what message does that send to Israel?
poor obama, what a sissy biatch
If forcing Abbas into the arms of Hamas was not the goal of Netanyahu's every action for two years then the man must be mad.
He seems to think he's got something here, while everyone else is at least half way optimistic about this development. Tsk tsk.
Faced with the threat of a moderating influence in Gaza, he is losing it.
It's almost entirely out of the picture anymore...lol. Look ahead to September and be happy...till then.
He bites the hand from which he wants hand-outs.
is a so called a 'state' to destroy Israel .. That will never happened. Destroying a nation was never happened in history. That is why 'Palestine' is a rubbish dream !
can Akram Zekaria, who is paid to post this nonsense tell me, where will Armagadon takes place, or you are saying too, that my bible is Rabbish, and how about the Christ destroying Israel, why don't you read the bible ?
I wonder what is wrong with Israelis that they always whine about the other side with no admission of their own violent acts.
Netanyahu can whine all he likes to his AIPAC friends, but the Europeans have a different take on a Fatah-Hamas unity government than the Americans and Israelis. They've always said that was a prerequisite for European support, now lets see if they translate their rhetoric into action.
Renouncing violence, recognizing Israel and honoring past agreements signed by the Palestinian Authority. Will Hamas do that? So far, senior Hamas people, including Mahmoud Zahar, say no. Without fulfilling those three conditions, Hamas should not have EU support. Without EU support, there will be no ratification of a Palestinian state come September. What will happen? That depends on what Hamas decides to do.
Get used it. I just hope the Palestinian leaders play their cards right and stay focused on a united front.
Many many many congratulations to Hamas and Fatah..they have done a far far better thing.
excuses and more excuses Bibi is not interested in peace his lies are now well known to the world ,take this advise Bibi Israel is better off with Hamas and Fatah on one side take advantage of this matter.
Not sure if they will change their name but in away it would be smart too.
Isn't Israel already negotiating with Hamas over Shalit? Yet they expect other international organisations and representatives to shun Hamas and now Fatah also. More hypocrisy from another desperate Israeli government that has to offer other than barriers and road blocks.
The Israelis really will do anything to avoid a settlement. The Palestinians can't possibly jump through enough hoops. Hamas could shower Netayahu with rose petals, and he'd still find something to complain about. Truth is, he does not want peace. He wants property.
The Palestinians and the Americans will do as they choose, and you can keep your opinions to yourself.
You can keep your opinions to yourself. Hypocrite.
The problem is, Israel cannot win this fight at any level. It is better to lose a small fight now than a big one later. The damage Israel is doing to America is bad enough without this stupidity.
The news is great for the Palestinians, and will remove an obstacle for some UN members who see the separate regimes in Gaza and West Bank as a problem for supporting an independent Palestinian state. But the news is also good for Israel: It has a partner for peace. One deal applies to all of Palestine. Hamas already said in the past that they will accept a peace deal with Israel if the Palestinians vote for it, and that is good. Israelis should also have a referendum so that peace, and its expected consequences, is viewed as legitimate by all. Netanyahu of course will seize this unity as a new excuse for not negotiating with Abbas, but he wouldn't negotiate with or without hamas, so it makes no difference. In the recent past, when Hamas won the PA 2006 elections and formed a government, foreign countries dealt with Abbas and ministers not associated with Hamas. The Olmert government (of Likud vintage) refused to deal even with Abbas himself: If a piece of the PA government is non-kosher, it is all treif (non-kosher). Netanyahoo is expected to behave similarly, but again, his game remains the same anyhow, only the excuses change. As far as Hamas' position about the interim cabinet not negotiating with Israel until the new elections, this does NOT apply to President Abbas, nor does it apply to the PLO, under which peace negotiations have been conducted. Abbas WANTS to negotiate, but Netanyahu does not, and now he will have a formal "treif" excuse.
First, we were told we could not make peace because the Palestinians were not united (Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank). Now, if they are united we still can't make peace. Poor little us. Maybe, just maybe, we don't want to make peace.
Netanyahu simply doesn't want to negotiate with the Palestinians. Indeed, he doesn't want any negotiations with any Arabs, period. He wants what he has always wanted i.e. for the Americans to tell him that he can choose whatever he wants, and when he does it'll be fine with them.....