Israel Plans Steps in Response to Fatah-Hamas Reconciliation

The response by the government of Israel to the announced reconciliation between the Fatah and Hamas Palestinian factions continues to emerge with word of a second step following suspension of the peace talks brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry: freezing pending Palestinian construction in “Area C” of the West Bank: the portion designated by the 1993 Oslo Accords as being under both administrative and security control of Israel and which houses Israeli communities on land Israel acquired in the 1967 war. The move is significant because Palestinian officials have made development of its interests inside Area C with-or-without Israeli consent a priority in its movement toward state-building. On Sunday, Israel froze construction on 19 projects that had received approval as a goodwill gesture prior to the start of the Kerry talks. Also on Sunday, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett told foreign journalists that he favors a formal annexation of Israeli areas of post-1967 land, an idea that is being repeated with growing frequency. Labor Party chief and opposition head Isaac Herzog told The Media Line that, “Bennett’s proposal is not realistic and not reasonable. My idea is that Israel introduces a national plan which will get international support and it will demand that the new unity government recognize the principles of the Quartet.”   In Washington, a White House spokesman in answer to a reporter’s question said the Obama administration would consider cutting-off the annual aid to the Palestinian Authority of more than $500 million if the new Hamas-inclusive unity government fails to accept the principles set forth by the Quartet – the international Mideast peace brokers including the US, United Nations, European Union and Russia –  that include recognition of the state of Israel; swearing-off violence; and acceptance of previous agreements.