Competing visions for Palestinians
While the Israelis and US want to isolate Hamas, some Arab states see need for Palestinian unity.
from the June 27, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
"The Sharm el-Sheikh conference was no more than a show. All the pressures are on Israel to make concession to Abu Mazen who is a virtual reality," he argues, using Abbas's nickname. "Abu Mazen showed he would turn against the terrorists only when the terrorists threaten his own government. We should put an end to this problem."
Ms. Eisin said the Shalit issue has stood in the way of more Palestinian prisoner releases and implied that until it's resolved, Israel will have nothing to do with Hamas.
"What Hamas did [Monday] is definitely within the lines of their own cruelty. It's the same Hamas that took Shalit, the same Hamas that took over the Gaza Strip, the same Hamas who was in the government, and the same Hamas we won't deal with," she said.
Nevertheless, with Egypt appearing to call for Fatah to reconcile with Hamas, Israel may not have long to deal with Fatah alone. But the formation of a new unity government may come with a more quiescent Hamas, some analysts argue.
Meir Javedanfar, a Middle East expert and author of "The Nuclear Sphinx of Tehran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the State of Iran," says Iran, which has provided funding to Hamas, is pressuring the movement to reenter unity talks, partially because the recent round of fighting makes Iran look like it's fueling civil war among Arabs.
"The recent takeover of Gaza has backfired. … Hamas has become more isolated than before,'' he says. "They've lost popularity because they've been shooting Palestinians in the street."
Mr. Javedanfar also says he believes new unity talks are a matter of time, but doesn't argue against helping Abbas now as any increase in his popularity will give him more leverage at the negotiating table.
"The easier Israel can make the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank, the more that's to Fatah's advantage," he says. "The best gift that Israel could give to Abbas is to carry out more withdrawals in the West Bank, that would make Abbas look like a leader who can deliver. But unfortunately I don't think Ehud Olmert is in a position to do that."
• Ilene R. Prusher contributed from Jerusalem.
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