Comments on: Hamas Fatah Reconciliation – what does it mean?

By: Mitchell Cohen

Mitchell Cohen — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 17:46:08 +0000

“Rabbi” Jutner claims Israeli Jews should leave Israel and establish their own “personal Jerusalems” wherever they live. In case the esteemed “Rabbi” has been living in a cave, there are millions of Jews who were born in Israel and know no other home. And, no small percentage of them, have been in this land for multiple generations. Your advice sounds similar to what the Nazis had in mind for the Jews who lived in Europe about 70 years ago and just before Yom Hoshoah.

“Rabbi” if you are happy in San Franciso, then more power to you, but those of us Jews in Eretz Yisrael will stay put here, than you very much, and we will prevail!!!!

By: Promised Land » Blog Archive » Erekat on unity: respect our democracy

Promised Land » Blog Archive » Erekat on unity: respect our democracy — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:32:40 +0000

[...] declarations from Hamas leaders rejecting the diplomatic process, Abbas said that the united Hamas-Fatah goverment will deal only with the rebuilding of Gaza and the preparation of new elections, due to take place [...]

By: ARI

ARI — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:24:02 +0000

Yes Israel has missed too many opportunities to make peace.
BUT
Was Hamas not founded to establish an Islamic Palestinian state that will replace Israel?
Does the charter not quote Islamic religious texts to provide justification for fighting against and killing the Jews of Israel?
Does it not present the Arab-Israeli conflict as an inherently irreconcilable struggle between Jews and Muslims, and Judaism and Islam,adding that the only way to engage in this struggle is through Islam and by means of jihad, until victory or martyrdom?

Daliah, though I wish to be optimistic, where/how do you see a partner for peace in Hamas????????

By: Buz

Buz — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 05:11:13 +0000

Yo…I always thought that PM Natanyahu was very bright and would rise above the morass and become a great statesman of the modern generation. It has NOT happened. I am losing my sincere faith and feeling for him as I am losing it for Pres Obama and other so called world leaders. This was a time when Natanyahu could have made history for Israel and for us in the Diaspora. There is no one who can or will do it.
So the Fatah and Hamas have united…which represents an interesting and not negative move. Once again, great statesmanship could and should finesse the move and also the UN vote ( which might just be passed !) and put the Israelis back incharge of of this interminable chess game !

By: Rabbi Tony Jutner

Rabbi Tony Jutner — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:08:50 +0000

Lary, I beg to differ. First, by haiving Hamas join Fatah in a unity government, they can play the good cop, bad cop that Jimmy Carter taught Arafat. You can negotiate with the good cop (Fatah) or the bad cop (Hamas). IN addition, the whole world recognizes Hamas right to govern, and one could say that Hamas is more democratic than ziostan. Finally, once Obama is re-elected, he will recognize Hamas and force israel to negotiate with Hamas without Obama ever having to set foot in ziostan. Thus this rapprochement is of historic significance. I love your articles at JPOst. Keep rubbing the zionist snout in the dust

By: Larry Derfner

Larry Derfner — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:56:37 +0000

If the Palestinians’ whole strategy is to bring intl pressure on Israel to end the occupation, how does Hamas’ new improved status do anything but harm that goal? Which intl player that has influence on Israel – i.e. which Western or Western-allied country – ISN’T unhappy w/this development? I think the Palestinians made a huge blunder.

By: Evan

Evan — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:01:09 +0000

Dahlia:

Very much enjoyed your post. One point which you didn’t address, though, which I’ve seen other sites address (and which seems to be quite relevant) is Hamas relationship with the Assad regime in Syria. The thinking is that Hamas’ leadership is becoming increasingly worried that their patron may not be around much longer and that this, in turn, puts them in a more vulnerable position. Perhaps this, combined with Hamas leadership’s awareness of the increasing desire of the Palestinian Gazans for peace, has shown them the need to resolve their disputes with Fatah.

By: Kim Nguyen

Kim Nguyen — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:55:01 +0000

“The Israeli leadership will try to use Hamas as an excuse to avoid negotiations…” I see they are already floating that one and will probably get some milage out of it from their US enablers. I doubt that those games are going to work any longer. The Palestinian people have powerful levers now: a unified leadership and the non-violent popular resistance to occupation. World opinion is shifting in favor of freedom thanks to the courage of the young Arabs! Peace now, or be left behind.

By: max

max — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:03:34 +0000

Dahlia, as you correctly observe, the basic difference between the Zionist right & left in Israel is related to their degree of optimism / pessimism.
That’s also why the difference is much less observable in the governments: they have to deal with risk management, an inherently pessimistic (and defensive) perspective.
That said, governments have also a task of defining plausible futures and pursuing steps to help them shape those futures. Israeli governments, Netanyahu’s included (but not more than others), have failed miserably in this task.
In this respect, the Palestinians seem to be better “go” players.
.
2. “… this is a Hamas-style admission that there will be a Palestinian state that is distinct from the Israeli state –in effect giving up on the notion of a total Palestinian takeover.”
Must it be? What about the speculation (based on many internal memos) that we’re facing here a salami tactic? Wouldn’t you at least wait for a formal declaration before putting in their mouth such benevolent ideas, acting upon only to later be surprised when/if they correctly claim they never said it?

By: Carl

Carl — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:45:19 +0000

If it actually does go ahead this reconciliation, I’d say it’s got to be step in the right direction. Hopefully Dahlia you’re right, and this represents a resurgence of the pragmatic side of Hamas, something which has been in decline since the middle of last decade. Theophilus, I wouldn’t worry too much on their charter, mental though much of it is; unless all of Israel’s armed forces accidentally book their holidays on the same day, they’re not going to get to carry it out.

All told, I’d agree this reconciliation is a necessary first step for any future agreement, but if the Palestinians get it together in the long run is indeed a big if. The Israeli & US right response is too predictable to even mention, but given the regional climate, they might be forced to reassess their worldview. Actually, scratch that last bit: admission of reality has never been their strong point.

Tony et al, if we’re going to veer off the subject, can we discuss the issue of Hamas V Fatah baseball caps? Hamas: strong colours but predictable. Fatah: classic design, but in dire need of an update. I’m on the fence with this one.