Assessments and Speculation over News of Fatah-Hamas Reconciliation

Speculation is rife one day after the Fatah and Hamas factions announced that they had at long last agreed to reconcile. While each assessment and evaluation is tinged with the political perspective of the source of speculation, virtually all share the basic question of “Why is the latest agreement any different than the Doha and Cairo agreements, both signed in 2011 and neither even remotely implemented?” What is a virtual consensus opinion is that without ending the bifurcation between Fatah-led West Bank and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, it is impossible for the Palestinians to move forward toward statehood. But still to be answered is the impact the planned unity government will have on relations between the Palestinians and Israel and the international community — in particular the United States whose government is precluded by law from engaging with governments that include entities listed on the State Department’s list of terrorist organizations, as is Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reacted to news of the pact with an ultimatum to choose reconciliation with Hamas or peace with Israel; and politicians are calling for punitive measures to be imposed on the Abbas government. The Palestinians insist the reconciliation deal will in no way hinder the peace process. Under terms of the agreement, Hamas and Islamic Jihad will join the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the overseeing Palestinian voice. A unity government will be set in place within five weeks, followed within six months by elections for president, Palestinian Legislative Council and Palestinian National Council. The legislature will resume its activities immediately. While some reacted jubilantly, if not cautiously, to the announcement, others drew parallels to the time prior to the 2006 election and noted that the stage is set for the possible take-over of the PLO by Hamas and Islamic Jihad and with it, control of the Palestinian agenda. On Thursday, PLO official Jibril Rajoub told Israel’s Army Radio that the reconciliation agreement is based on a two-state solution and includes recognition of the state of Israel. In Washington, the US State Department said it was “disappointed” by the reconciliation announcement which it called, “troubling.”