dagblog - Comments for "The Hamas/Fatah unity discussions"

So do I. But most

acanuck — Thu, 05 May 2011 03:44:16 +0000

So do I. But most Palestinians would forgive the flippancy, I think; for many, unity talks -- like peace talks -- are a joke that's been told once too often.

I was going to say that I

Flavius — Thu, 05 May 2011 03:31:22 +0000

In reply to As we should have expected,

I was going to say that I hope it succeeds if it's a good thing and that it doesn't if it isn't.

But I decided that it was incorrect to be flippant about something that could be so important if it works.

So I hope it works.

The pact calls for an interim

acanuck — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:21:42 +0000

In reply to Thanks for the information. .

The pact calls for an interim government made up of technocrats, not partisan politicians, to be chosen by mutual agreement. PM Salam Fayyad would qualify as such a technocrat, but Hamas views him as way too much Abbas's boy. There's a West Bank billionaire who has been suggested as a possible compromise successor. I find it hard to imagine how he got to be a billionaire without being totally corrupt, but there you go.

As we should have expected,

acanuck — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:13:17 +0000

In reply to Thanks for bringing the

As we should have expected, Bruce, this arranged marriage is off to a rocky start. Ynet has Abbas and Meshaal squabbling over who got to sit at the head table, who'd speak first and for how long, etc. Imagine when they get down to substantive issues.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4064654,00.html

On the positive side, Hamas TV resumed broadcasting in the West Bank, and PA TV did the same in Gaza. Can they stick to respectful, reasoned disagreement or will they simply spew polarizing propaganda? Most Palestinians, it appears, are skeptical.

That would be super Flavius.

Bruce Levine — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:32:54 +0000

In reply to We'll see. When I finish To

That would be super Flavius.

We'll see. When I finish To

Flavius — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:12:31 +0000

In reply to Thanks for bringing the

We'll see.

When I finish To the end of the Land. I'm going to post a review here. Dagblog could use a good book review. Or even one by me.

Thanks for bringing the

Bruce Levine — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:54:35 +0000

In reply to The Hamas/Fatah unity discussions

Thanks for bringing the myriad voices at bitterlemons to our attention Flavius. Here's my profound take: the reconciliation works if it works, and if it doesn't, it doesn't. We shall see and hope for the best.

Witch hunt coming on that?

we are stardust — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:58:01 +0000

In reply to Interesting range of views. I

Witch hunt coming on that? Eeek.

Thanks for the information. .

Flavius — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:51:22 +0000

In reply to Interesting range of views. I

Thanks for the information. . My exposure to Israeli affairs is restricted to reading bitterlemons.(and Amoz Oz and David Grossman) , Not a choice , just inertia. I really should read haaretz.

I don't feel I'm restricting myself to too narrow a range of views since bitterlemons regularly include representatives of the settlers.And my object is not to immerse myself but to be reasonably informed. .

I wonder about the clause in the agreement requiring the replacement of the prime minister I became aware from Alpher's comments here a couple of years ago -long before it was covered by the Times(or the FT or NPR) of his success in demonstrating that the Palestinians could conduct a rational administration..What happens now I wonder. What role will he play? Who'll replace him?

As for Bibi and Lieberman for someone with my superficial knowledge they arrear to have just taken the mantra Israel doesn't have a negotiating partner and without mssing a beat. switched the conclusion from because the Palestinians are divided to because the Palestinians are unified.

Not that that makes them unique among politicians

Interesting range of views. I

acanuck — Wed, 04 May 2011 06:17:23 +0000

In reply to The Hamas/Fatah unity discussions

Interesting range of views. I would take issue with Alpher's throwaway line, "Fateh and Hamas did not split because of Israel ... ." That glosses over Mohammed Dahlan's abortive coup against the duly elected Haniyeh govt., clearly orchestrated by the U.S. and Israel, that led to Fateh being booted out of Gaza. Alpher knows better.

What's even more interesting than four pundits is the confidential report of the Israeli Foreign Ministry's career analysts, who basically say Bibi and Lieberman are wrong:

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-diplomats-view-hamas-fatah-deal-differently-than-netanyahu-1.359706

Also interesting that someone thought, after it was ignored, that it was worth the risk of leaking to Haaretz.