Hamas and Fatah unveil Palestinian reconciliation deal

[webfact]

Hamas and Fatah unveil Palestinian reconciliation deal
BBC News, Gaza City

GAZA: -- Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have announced a reconciliation deal, saying they will try to form a unity government in the coming weeks.

Hamas and Fatah split violently in 2007. Previous reconciliation agreements have never been implemented.

The deal comes amid troubled peace talks between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel.

Following the announcement, Israel said it would not attend a negotiation session planned for Wednesday evening.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said Mr Abbas would have to choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas.

"You can have one but not the other. I hope he chooses peace; so far he hasn't done so," he warned.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27128902


-- BBC 2014-04-24

[pbay]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said Mr Abbas would have to choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas.

Very amusing being as Israel has shown it is not interested in peace. On going peace talks and the Israelis go back on their word to release prisoners and keep building more illegal homes on Palestinian land.Bunch of jokers.

[Scarpolo]

What is "palestinian" land?

did you know that all peoples, jews, christians, moslems, druse, etc., were all called palestinians?

[Eliot Rosewater]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said Mr Abbas would have to choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas.

Very amusing being as Israel has shown it is not interested in peace. On going peace talks and the Israelis go back on their word to release prisoners and keep building more illegal homes on Palestinian land.Bunch of jokers.

And Hamas is interested in peace???

You know nothing about the situation apparently.

Also, I certainly hope you have as much disdain for Thailand as you do for Israel, as the Thai govt. has been much more brutal, unfair and unwilling to negotiate to/with the terrorists in the south.

[Scott]

Just to be clear, this thread is about Hamas and Fatah. Stay on topic.

[Scarpolo]

Hamas and the PA need to show the world that they can talk to eachother before the rest of the world believes either speaks for the whole

This has long been their problem, Sunni vs Shiite, the same old worn out story of the conflict

[pbay]

Hamas and the PA need to show the world that they can talk to eachother before the rest of the world believes either speaks for the whole

This has long been their problem, Sunni vs Shiite, the same old worn out story of the conflict

You clearly have not got a clue about Hamas or the PA. It has nothing to do with Sunni and Shia at all.

[danmarnj]

I used to have a little sympathy for the Palestinians before 9/11....Now I'm tired of looking at them and hearing from them

[Morch]

They still have a long way to go until this is real, although even seating in the same room in front of cameras is an achievement.

Some of the most contended issues were simply put on hold (who head's the interim government, how representation will work afterwards, integration and control of armed wings), so it's not far fetched to see this crumbling in a few weeks/months. Been there done that.

Another major issue is the stance vs. Israel - While the PA (basically, Fatah) is committed to a political solution with Israel, the Hamas and the Islamic Jihad are not (and public announcement to that effect were already made). As both organizations will supposedly be integrated within the PA and merge with Fatah, it leaves the question of future negotiations open. The PA's status vs. USA and other countries (read donors) might also be problematic if Hamas and Islamic Jihad are incorporated without major policy shift.

The Israeli government reaction is a generic knee-jerk, of course. And one may always suspect their sincerity holding negotiations. That said, if the Palestinians are about to have a new government in place which will include Hamas, that might mean a change in Palestinian negotiation positions. This will probably make both sides review the negotiations, so putting things on hold may indeed be a reasonable approach.

[Scott]

Inflammatory, off-topic posts and replies deleted.