Fatah and Hamas reconcile

[Orko]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13215062

The Fatah party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas, which governs Gaza, have agreed a reconciliation deal, officials say.

Under the Egyptian-brokered deal, an interim government will be formed and a date fixed for elections.

The factions have been divided for more than four years, with Hamas in power in Gaza and Fatah running the West Bank.

Palestinian and Egyptian spokesmen told news agencies of the deal but a formal announcement has not yet been made.

Thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza this month, calling for reconciliation.
The protests were inspired by uprisings elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa.
The split between the two groups occurred when violence erupted a year after Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006.

Tahir al-Nounou, a Hamas government spokesman who was at the meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo, where the deal was hammered out, told the BBC: "Hamas and Fatah have signed in principle a reconciliation deal in Cairo.

"The final signing will be in a week from now. Cairo will invite Mahmoud Abbas and [Hamas leader] Khalid Meshaal, and representatives from all Palestinian factions, to attend the signing."

Mr Nounou said all disagreements had been overcome.

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Cairo says that if the deal goes ahead, it will end five years of bitter hostility between the two sides and remove a significant barrier to the Palestinian campaign for statehood.

But he says there are many difficult issues to resolve - such as how the two factions will share security, how Gaza and the West Bank, separated by Israeli territory, will be governed, and whether the international donors will be willing to recognise Hamas.

Is this a good or a bad development? On the one hand it may mean Palestinian unity, on the other hand it means endorsing a terrorist organisations.

[Tiberios]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13215062


Is this a good or a bad development? On the one hand it may mean Palestinian unity, on the other hand it means endorsing a terrorist organisations.

I think it's a good development. Though it's endorsing Hamas as you say, that might just be necessary to achieve some kind of progress to establish a Palestinian Government and, hopefully, a Palestinian state.

I'm just a bit worried Israel will overreact because of this.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Terrorist organisations have been engaged with huge success in Northern Ireland - frankly the "we do not negotiate with terrorists" dogma is a lie not really believed nor historically likely to produce long-term results.

[Sir Pignans]

Haaretz says there going to have elections later this year.

Source: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/fatah-and-hamas-agree-to-historic-palestinian-reconciliation-deal-1.358445

[irontaino]

Palestinian disunity has been one of the main things blocking peace, hopefully this is the first step in the right direction.

[Sir Pignans]

Palestinian disunity has been one of the main things blocking peace, hopefully this is the first step in the right direction.

Netanyahu has said Israel will refuse to deal with a Hamas-Fatah unity goverment.

[PointOfViewGun]

Netanyahu has said Israel will refuse to deal with a Hamas-Fatah unity goverment.

Surprised?

[Orko]

We have a good reason not to deal with Hamas. They are terrorists, who opress their own people.
Now the only thing I think is good about the Palestinians striving for international recognition of a Palestinian state is that Netanyahu will finally realise that he has to do something and cannot go on with this farce.

[Sir Pignans]

We have a good reason not to deal with Hamas. They are terrorists, who opress their own people.
Now the only thing I think is good about the Palestinians striving for international recognition of a Palestinian state is that Netanyahu will finally realise that he has to do something and cannot go on with this farce.

Except there going for elections late this year, then we shall see if they truly 'oppress' there people. The votes will count. In addition, it remains to be seen what points have been agreed upon, for all we know Hamas might have agreed to recognise Israel.

[removeduser_487563287433]

We have a good reason not to deal with Hamas. They are terrorists, who opress their own people.

So are many groups that have been allowed to take part in a lasting peace. Not every situation is so easily comparable, but the "we do not negotiate with terrorists" line is a bankrupt lie.

[Blaze86420]

Well for what I know Fatah and Hamas are both terrorist organizations even if with a different ideological mindset.

Why am I not surprised?

We have a good reason not to deal with Hamas. They are terrorists, who opress their own people.

Haha, like the PLO or your own country doesn't.

Anyways, this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "I hope the Palestinian Authority will make the right choice - peace with Israel."

Lol. And I hope he goes and s himself.

Regardless, this is a step in the right direction. The next one would be a peace treaty with Israel that would eventually lead to complete re-write of their charter, Israelis staying on their side of the border, Palestine becoming a sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital and everybody lives happily ever after.

[irontaino]

Netanyahu has said Israel will refuse to deal with a Hamas-Fatah unity goverment.

That's definitely not a surprise.

[magpie]

Netanyahu has said Israel will refuse to deal with a Hamas-Fatah unity goverment.

If Moses himself was leading a Palestinian coalition, Netanyahu would not deal with it.

[Guy]

Israeli illegally annex Palestine; people who fight back are donned "terrorists." Quite frankly I'm sick to death of the word "terrorist." If you oppress a people, don't expect hugs and kisses back - not that I support the acts of Hamas or Fatah or any militant Palestinian organisation.

In terms of the unity I'm very pleased. Hopefully this will prove to be a peaceful move towards a united people, Palestinian and Israeli. Unfortunately it's the Israeli government who aren't uniting or willing... Anyone remember Operation Cast Lead?

Well. I wouldn't agree with putting sanctions on them. Reducing military aid perhaps.

Israeli goods fund the weapon production (primarily imported from the USA). In order to create effectiveness you'd need to sanction both factors.

[Principe Alessandro]

Well for what I know Fatah and Hamas are both terrorist organizations even if with a different ideological mindset.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Well for what I know Fatah and Hamas are both terrorist organizations even if with a different ideological mindset.

Except for of course no Government on Earth, including Israel, considers Fatah to be a terrorist organisation.

But you know, details.

[Sir Pignans]

Surprised?

Not at all, annoyed and disapointed though.

[PointOfViewGun]

Not at all, annoyed and disapointed though.

One good thing to try would be to start improving the living conditions of the people in Gaza with the help from Egypt. In the meantime they could stop any explosive attack on Israel but concentrate on sniper warfare on Israeli soldiers.

[Menelik_I]

In the meantime they could stop any explosive attack on Israel but concentrate on sniper warfare on Israeli soldiers.

What happen if they can't get past the Gaza security fence or can't find Israeli soldiers to kill, because AFAIK the most real reaction of Hamas is to carry out a desperateness attack on civilian when they are unable to attack the IDF.

[PointOfViewGun]

What happen if they can't get past the Gaza security fence or can't find Israeli soldiers to kill, because AFAIK the most real reaction of Hamas is to carry out a desperateness attack on civilian when they are unable to attack the IDF.

They can go as far as the 1967 borders covering Gaza. They can pull down the fence as well. The reason for attacks on civilian areas by Hamas is not much different than the reason for Israeli blockade anyway. There will always be Israeli soldiers on the border anyway and they're legitimate targets.

I'm sure Israel will be content with Hamas targetting its soldiers

They have to man up a little.