Me neither. I hadn't seen

acanuck — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:07:08 +0000

In reply to Here's the letter I got from

Me neither. I hadn't seen APN's reaction. I suspect that, even in Israel, there are lots of realists who agree with Halevy but have yet to take a public stand.

Here's the letter I got from

Bruce Levine — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:00:14 +0000

In reply to J Street, Jimmy Carter and

Here's the letter I got from J Street today:

News that a preliminary agreement on political reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas has been reached poses one of the most important challenges in years to those who hope to see a peaceful two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

J Street’s reaction to events always starts from our guiding principle: an unshakeable belief that Israel’s survival and security as the democratic home of the Jewish people depends on achieving a two-state resolution to the conflict with the Palestinian people – meaning the broadest possible cross-section of Palestinian society. We are guided by our belief that Israel’s long-term security depends on establishing two states with internationally-recognized borders.

Overcoming the split between Fatah and Hamas, and between the West Bank and Gaza, has always been a precondition for final resolution of the conflict. In fact, many who oppose a two-state deal have, in recent years, done so by arguing that divisions among the Palestinians make peace impossible. Obviously, reconciliation reduces that obstacle – but now skeptics of a two-state agreement have immediately stepped forward to say that a deal is impossible with a Palestinian unity government that includes Hamas.

We are well aware that there are those in Hamas who are not interested in a two-state solution but who seek the long-term destruction of the state of Israel as a Jewish national home. No one should have any illusions about the dangers and risks ahead.

We also know, however, that the majority of the Palestinian people are willing to accept a two-state deal and all the compromises it entails in order to end the generations-old conflict. So we also believe that no one should doubt that there are still very real opportunities available that should be explored, particularly since the dangers and risks of the status quo are so significant.

If indeed this reconciliation deal is implemented – and history does give reason to question whether it will – there are many questions that the new Palestinian leadership must answer in the coming weeks and months. Is the Palestinian Liberation Organization – as the official representative of the Palestinian people – still committed to a two-state solution? Is it willing to reaffirm its renunciation of the use of violence and terror against Israeli civilians? Will existing security understandings be honored? Will rocket fire from Gaza be stopped?

These questions become all the more important in light of the possibility of United Nations recognition in September of an independent Palestinian state. Yesterday’s news does not change the calculus for both the United States and Israel that the best way to avert a vote in September is for there to be a credible and realistic diplomatic initiative underway that offers a realistic path toward peace and security.

The only way to answer the questions raised by these new developments is through engagement and talks. We urge the United States, Israel and the international community to respond to this new development with caution and questions, but not with hostility. Encouraging movement in the right direction through engagement is more likely to lead to a long-term peaceful resolution than responding, for instance, by automatically cutting off aid to the Palestinian Authority.

There are respected Israelis with impeccable security credentials – such as former Mossad Director Ephraim Halevy – who have argued over the past year that diplomatic engagement even with Israel’s sworn enemies is necessary if there is to be a long-term resolution to the conflict. We believe that, with eyes wide open to the risks, it is imperative not to shut the door to talks with a newly configured Palestinian leadership – perhaps initially through third parties.

Perhaps one place to start is with the negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit. Reconciliation on the Palestinian side could provide new hope and opportunity for his release. The Israeli government has pursued negotiations for Corporal Shalit’s release indirectly through intermediaries. It should now be willing to explore such a deal with a unity government led by President Abbas. If the newly-unified political leadership of the Palestinian people wishes to signal to Israel that it is serious about achieving a peaceful two-state resolution, nothing would have a greater impact on Israeli and international opinion than his release in the coming weeks.

I leave tomorrow with a delegation of J Street leaders for an 8-day visit to the region. We are scheduled to meet with top Israeli and Palestinian officials including President Peres and President Abbas, Prime Minister Fayyad, Deputy Prime Minister Meridor and others across the ideological spectrum.

We will press our message of the need to explore opportunities with eyes wide open to the risks. And we will urge the Palestinian leadership to ensure that any new government affirm that it will maintain a policy of zero tolerance for violence, will abide by prior agreements and will pursue a two-state resolution to the conflict that recognizes the state of Israel.

And here's the letter Americans for Peace Now sent:

The agreement reportedly seeks to establish a single Palestinian government comprised of technocrats (not partisan politicos) to rule both Gaza and the West Bank until new elections are held. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would remain in office.
This news raises many questions: Will the deal actually be implemented? Will the Israeli government use this news to rebuff pressure to make progress on peace? How will this news impact the prospect that President Barack Obama will step up American efforts to renew peace talks?

APN seeks to promote a responsible, forward-looking U.S. policy. Our approach to this development is guided by the simple reality that the current Gaza-West Bank split is a hurdle to peace efforts, one that raises questions about the capacity of Abbas to implement an agreement.

Don't get me wrong. Hamas is a terrorist organization. It is not the partner that we would have chosen. At the same time, five years of U.S., Israeli, and international efforts to sideline Hamas have failed.

As Efraim Halevy, the former head of Israel's Mossad, told the New York Times "there will be no serious progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without some way of including Hamas in the process so as to transform them from being part of problem to being part of the solution."

With this knowledge, APN is promoting a sensible, pragmatic policy prescription. The Obama administration should (1) encourage an agreement that ends the schism in Palestinian policy. And (2) it should be willing to engage with a new Palestinian government based on its policies and actions.

I'm not on Carter's mailing list. :)

J Street, Jimmy Carter and

acanuck — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:09:21 +0000

In reply to Fatah and Hamas sign reconciliation deal

J Street, Jimmy Carter and the Christian Science Monitor all think the wise course is to treat this as an opportunity, not a setback.

Daniel Levy has an optimistic

acanuck — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:58:53 +0000

In reply to Fatah and Hamas sign reconciliation deal

Daniel Levy has an optimistic but I think realistic assessment about where Palestinian reconciliation might lead. We can expect serious attempts, including military ones, to scuttle the deal, but it looks like both Hamas and Fatah finally realize disunity only serves the occupation:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/28/palestinian-territories-hamas

Couple this with Egypt's apparent decision to permanently reopen the Gaza border crossing, and it's pretty clear the U.S.-Israeli monopoly on "the peace process" is collapsing. Without Egypt playing along, a major rethink is needed, and soon.

thanks backatcha, lally, I

artappraiser — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:45:25 +0000

In reply to Imra has an interesting

thanks backatcha, lally, I forget about IMRA, long time ago used to check it all the time.

edit to add: the copy & paste is only a solution when code isn't too fancy with text size, fonts, tables or other stuff like that. but even then I find that sometimes you can get rid of some of that by toggling to "disable rich text" and erasing some of the code.

Imra has an interesting

lally — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:29:34 +0000

In reply to Fatah and Hamas sign reconciliation deal

Imra has an interesting collection of articles on this development from the perspectives of the participants et al:

(thanks to aa for HT about C&P links!)

11. Fatah, Hamas in unity govt understanding

12. Additional PLO news agency reports on Hamas-Fatah reconciliation

13. PLO news agency reports on Hamas-Fatah reconciliation

14. Initial reconciliation deal signed in Cairo

15. Fatah, Hamas Reach Agreement on all Issues of Difference

and this bonus about another change of diplomatic direction for Egypt.

10. Egypt Reiterates Resolve to Resume Ties with Iran

Pretty big news, especially

acanuck — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:20:11 +0000

In reply to Fatah and Hamas sign reconciliation deal

Pretty big news, especially if it includes agreements on control of security forces, joint appointment of government officials, and scheduling of a pan-Palestinian election. Israel's threats to end the peace process might carry more weight if there were an actual peace process to end.

Reports that the deal took the U.S. by surprise are amazing, given that close ally Egypt was brokering it. I'm sure the U.S. knew of the talks but hoped they would be scuttled. It's long overdue, imo, that Egypt forge its own foreign-policy role. The I-P saga was never going to be settled as long as Egypt played lapdog.

This adds pressure to the September push for statehood. At some point, Israel and the U.S. have to recognize the status quo is over.

dagblog - Comments for "Fatah and Hamas sign reconciliation deal"

Me neither. I hadn't seen

Here's the letter I got from

J Street, Jimmy Carter and

Daniel Levy has an optimistic

thanks backatcha, lally, I

Imra has an interesting

Pretty big news, especially