Vital Perspective

Arab League Slams Violence Between Fatah, Hamas as 'Palestinian Madness'

The Arab League called for an immediate end to Palestinian factional fighting in the Palestinian territories today, describing it as unprecedented "Palestinian madness".

"Let's leave the killing, aggression and destruction to Israel, because that's enough for the Palestinian people," said Mohamed Subaih, the Arab League's assistant secretary-general for Palestinian affairs. "This infighting is unprecedented Palestinian madness," Subaih added.

Fatah gunmen on Tuesday threatened to kill Hamas leaders, escalating a power struggle marked by the worst internal violence in Gaza and the West Bank since the Palestinian Authority's creation in 1994. Twelve Palestinians have been killed and more than 100 wounded in two days of fighting between Fatah and Hamas against a backdrop of stalled negotiations between President Mahmoud Abbas and PM Ismail Haniyeh over the formation of a unity government.

Subaih said that the infighting was the greatest threat to the Palestinian cause and made it hard for the Arab League to argue on the Palestinians' behalf. The League needed a unified Palestinian stance, he said. "This was a clear request from the Arab League and the foreign ministers, that the Palestinian stance be unified so we can address the world," Subaih said.

Rice Begins Mideast Trip in Riyadh Seeking Input on Support for Moderates

Secretary Rice began a tour of the Middle East today with a stop in Saudi Arabia. She told reporters en route to Shannon, Ireland yesterday that her message to King Abdullah is that the administration is seeking Saudi input on ways to bolster Lebanese PM Fuad Siniora and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Rice will continue on to Cairo where she has laid out an aggressive itinerary. She'll meet with President Hosni Mubarak and FM Ahmad Abu Gheit before hosting a conference in which the foreign ministers of eight Arab nations will participate. The Bush administration wants to bolster what it considers the moderate states in the region and involve them in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. It is expected that the Rice mini-conference will end with a reiteration of the 2002 Saudi peace initiative that has been rejected by successive Israeli governments.

On Wednesday, Rice will meet with a number of Palestinian officials in east Jerusalem and in Ramallah. Among those she has scheduled to meet are Abbas, Hanan Ashrawi and Mustafa Barghouti, members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, former security chief Muhammad Dahlan and leaders who have served time in Israeli jails.

Hamas Supporter Throws Grenade on Gaza Crowd Protesting Salary Problems

The Palestinian government on Thursday began paying partial salaries to 165,000 civil servants who haven't received their full wages in months with money donated by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but government employees complained that in some cases, the money hadn't arrived, and in others they were left with nothing after banks deducted commissions and interest and paid off existing loans. Those employees -- thousands of them -- filled the streets of Gaza today, burning tires, blocking roads and firing in the air.

Outside Rafah City, protesters threw stones at the vehicle of Attalah Abu Sabh, Hamas' minister of culture, breaking its windows. The protesters also tried to enter a number of schools and disrupt studies, witnesses said.

Later, five people were wounded when a Hamas sympathiser tossed a hand grenade into the demonstration in Deir el-Balah, security sources said.

Polls Show Palestinians Dissatisfied with Hamas; Fatah Again Most Popular

Fatah is once again the top political faction in Gaza and the West Bank, according to a poll by Birzeit University. The poll shows 34.9 percent of respondents would vote for Fatah in a new legislative election, while 30.5 percent would support Hamas. Moreover, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, 52 percent are dissatisfied with the Hamas government.

On September 11, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the eventual formation of a unity government with Hamas, and 67.2 percent of respondents believe a joint administration would be capable of dealing with the surrounding conditions. The public, however, is completely divided as to what the top priority of a unity government should be: enforcement of law and order (32 percent); return to the peace process and negotiations (25 percent); ending international financial and political sanctions (23 percent); or implementing political reforms and fighting corruption (18 percent). Talks of a unity government have since ground to a halt.

Abbas Cancels Trip to Gaza for Meetings with Hamas on Unity Government

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas won't travel to Gaza tomorrow to revive talks with Hamas on forming a unity government. "The president is not going to Gaza in the near future because he's preoccupied with several appointments," spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said.

One official said Abbas believed there was no point going to Gaza after Hamas insisted that any agreement on a unity government would not include recognition of Israel.

Abbas: Palestinian Unity Government Efforts with Hamas are 'Back to Zero'

Accusing Hamas of backtracking, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned yesterday that his efforts to set up a national unity government that is acceptable to the West are "back to zero." Hamas officials have suggested that Abbas oversold the emerging coalition to the international community, portraying it as more conciliatory toward Israel than it was meant to be. Despite Abbas' pessimism, Hamas insisted a deal could still be struck. Abbas is to meet with Hamas leaders in Gaza on Monday.

The latest setback comes at a time of growing tensions between Hamas and Fatah, particularly in Gaza, where some Fatah members have accused Hamas of involvement in the assassination of a Fatah-allied security chief last week. If the rival factions fail to reach agreement, more violent confrontations appear inevitable.

Abbas has few other options. As president, he could dissolve the Hamas government, but a new government would also require — and likely be denied — approval by the Hamas-controlled parliament. Palestinians would likely balk at early elections, having gone to the polls just nine months ago, and Fatah has no guarantee it would win this time.

At the UN earlier this week, Abbas said the new government would recognize Israel, prompting angry denials by Hamas. Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat said that Hamas had pulled back from previous agreements with Fatah, noting that a new Palestinian government would be expected to recognize Israel. "The carrot (for Hamas) is improving the Palestinian situation," he said.

However, Hamas fears it will lose popular support if it softens its hardline positions and becomes indistinguishable from Fatah. Recent polls show that a majority of Palestinians don't want Hamas to recognize Israel, perhaps as a matter of pride, even though two-thirds also want Abbas to negotiate a peace deal with Israel.

After UN Speech, Haniyeh Strikes Blow to Abbas: He Won't Recognize Israel

Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said Friday he will not head a government that recognizes Israel, striking a blow to President Mahmoud Abbas' attempts to create a national unity government. The declaration came a day after Abbas indicated at the UN that a unity government would recognize Israel.

"I personally will not head any government that recognizes Israel," Haniyeh said in a mosque sermon in Gaza City, laying out his group's position in coalition talks with Abbas. However, Haniyeh said Hamas is ready to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem - areas Israel captured in the Six Day War - and to honor a long-term truce with Israel.

This proposition is simply unacceptable to Israel and the international community. A retreat to the indefensible borders of 1967 is simply not on the table. Moreover, there will not be an establishment of a Palestinian state until the government recognizes Israel, renounces terror, accepts all prior agreements and implements the Road Map.

Officials from both Fatah and Hamas said privately that it wasn't clear whether Abbas' speech was meant to solicit international support for the planned government, or a new condition to forming a coalition with Hamas. In deciding to form a coalition with Fatah, Hamas had agreed to "respect" past agreements, but didn't commit to them, calling into question Abbas' ability to maneuver in any future peacemaking. Hamas is afraid that committing to past agreements would be tantamount to recognizing Israel, which it is sworn to destroy.

All of this maneuvering signals that this is the critical hour for Hamas. The economic pressure from the international community is taking a serious toll on their popularity with the Palestinian people. Just last week, we saw this quote in the New York Times from Atemad Abu Leilah, a 33-year-old mother of 11 children living in northern Gaza: ''I voted for Hamas, for reform and change and improvement. But now I look at my kids and I regret my vote.'' We must not go wobbly now at the moment when Hamas may change.

Quartet to Palestinians: Unity Government Must Comply with Basic Principles

We've just received a copy of the Quartet statement on the Israeli - Palestinian conflict that was released today. The focus is international humanitarian assistance via the Temporary International Mechanism which was created in June to circumvent the Hamas-led government.

While most of the mainstream is focused on the endorsement of a unity government, the language is clear that the Quartet is sticking to its demand that the Palestinian government recognize Israel, renounce terror and accept all prior agreements with Israel. This is what the Quartet means when they condition their endorsement "in the hope that the platform of such a government would reflect Quartet principles." Here is the bottom line: it's not the government that matters, it's the platform.

STATEMENT OF THE QUARTET
New York, 20 September 2006

Quartet principals – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner – met today in New York to discuss developments in the Middle East since their last meeting May 9.

Taking stock of recent developments in the region, the Quartet stressed the urgent need to make progress towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The Quartet expressed its concern at the grave crisis in Gaza and the continued stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Quartet welcomed the efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to form a government of national unity, in the hope that the platform of such a government would reflect Quartet principles and allow for early engagement.

The Quartet underlined the urgent need for the parties to implement fully all aspects of the Agreement on Movement and Access. Accordingly, Rafah and all other passages should remain open consistent with relevant agreements.

The Quartet encouraged greater donor support to meet the needs of the Palestinian people, with a particular emphasis on security sector reform, reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, and economic development. The Quartet commended the efforts of the World Bank and the European Union to facilitate needs-based assistance directly to the Palestinian people via the Temporary International Mechanism endorsed by the Quartet on June 17. Mindful of the continuing needs of the Palestinian people, the Quartet endorsed the continuation and expansion of the Temporary International Mechanism for a three month period, and agreed to again review the need for such a mechanism at the end of that period.

The Quartet noted that the resumption of transfers of tax and customs revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority would have a significant impact on the Palestinian economy. The Quartet encouraged Israel and the Palestinian Authority to consider resumption of such transfers via the Temporary International Mechanism to improve the economic and humanitarian conditions in the West Bank and Gaza.

The Quartet welcomed the initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to request Mr. James D. Wolfensohn to report on the situation on the ground.

The Quartet reaffirmed its commitment to the roadmap as the means to realize the goal of two democratic states – Israel and Palestine – living side by side in peace and security. The Quartet stressed the need for a credible political process in order to make progress towards a two-state solution through dialogue and parallel implementation of obligations. In this context, the Quartet welcomed the prospect of a meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Mahmoud Abbas in the near future. The Quartet agreed to meet on a regular basis in the coming period at both the Principals and Envoys level, including with the parties and other regional partners to monitor developments and actions taken by the parties and to discuss the way ahead.

Bush Meets Abbas; Haniyeh Rejects Quartet's Conditions for Palestinian Aid

Today, President Bush met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas... it's a meeting that members of Hamas will never enjoy. The meeting, in which Bush praised Abbas as "a man of peace who believes in a two-state solution" with an "inspiring vision", could not stand in greater contrast to the statement by Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas. Haniyeh rejected conditions set by the Quartet for resuming direct financial aid to the Palestinian Authority.

"Conditions are being imposed on the Palestinian people. They want us to condemn the resistance and that we recognize agreements," Haniyeh told hundreds of Palestinians rallying in support of his Hamas-led government. "We are sticking by the national reconciliation document which does not recognize the legality of the occupation and reaffirms the legality of the resistance."

Meanwhile, this good news from New York. Secretary Rice was quoted in al-Hayat as saying that proposed Palestinian unity government is inadequate and falls short on key conditions set by the Quartet in that it doesn't include recognizing Israel's sovereignty, renounce terrorism or accept previous agreements. The Quartet is set to convene tomorrow to discuss the developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Abbas, Israeli FM Livni Meet at UN to Discuss Gilad Shalit, Road Map Revival

The highest-level contact between Israeli and Palestinian officials in four months took place in New York on Monday night when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Israeli FM Tzipi Livni. The 90-minute meeting was described as "very, very positive" by Abbas and "very good, important and constructive" by Livni.

Atop the agenda was the matter of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, but no details were provided by either side. A Palestinian spokesman did, however, tell reporters that the Palestinians are exerting "maximum effort" to obtain Shalit's release and want Israel to release Palestinian prisoners it holds, including members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Abbas and Livni also discussed ways of returning to the Road Map. Although it had been unofficially declared dead by both Israeli and Palestinian politicians, the internationally sponsored plan is now returning to favor since Israeli PM Ehud Olmert's plans for a unilateral withdrawal from most of the West Bank were shattered by the recent violence in the region.