Israeli Government begins Implementation of Fatah-Hamas Reconciliation Payback

Israel’s government has begun to implement economic sanctions against the Palestinian Authority as payback for its unilateral moves to gain recognition and membership in United Nations organizations and treaties; and the reconciliation agreement between the Fatah and Hamas factions. Nineteen construction projects that were approved for locations in Area C (the Oslo Accord designation for the portion of the West Bank that falls under both Israeli security and administrative control) have been frozen in a decision the military administration says was made prior to the reconciliation. Approvals for those projects were given as good will gestures to get the Kerry process in gear last July. The tit-for-tat spiral continues with an announcement by the PA that it will now move to join an additional sixty UN-related organizations. Among the sanctions, Israel will further delay allowing the Palestinian Internet providers to begin offering G3 service. The New York Times on Monday quoted an unidentified Israeli official as saying that the Obama administration had promised Jerusalem that it would support Israel’s refusal to deal with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas unless the terrorist organization adopted the Quartet criteria: forswearing violence; recognizing the state of Israel; and honoring past agreements.