Report: Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in talks to form unity government

Jerusalem Post ^

[Eleutheria5]

Hamas and the Palestinian Authority were in talks to form a national unity government in preparation for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, the Bethlehem-based Ma'an News Agency reported Tuesday.

Abbas received phone calls from Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh confirming their decision to join Hamas with Fatah, according to Ma'an sources.

This was not the first time that the two parties had announced an agreement to end their differences. Over the past few years, Fatah and Hamas have reached a number of such agreements that were never implemented.

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[Eleutheria5]

Unity in advance of elections means that there will be no jockeying for position in light of the election results, because that will be rigged anyway, and the real issue is which faction will successfully eliminate the other in street fighting. As for the talk of unity, it's like nailing jelly to a wall. Recommended reading: Raphael Patai, the Arab Mind, chapter entitled Duality.

[ScaniaBoy]

Yes, but what will it mean for the “peace negotiations”. Will Kerry and president Selfie force the Israelis to accept to deal with a government that is part Hamas?

All of course to get better headlines in February/March than the Obamacare debacle.

[ColdOne]

As for the talk of unity, it's like nailing jelly to a wall Love that description!

[Eleutheria5]

Not original. Old adage re Arab unity.

[Eleutheria5]

How could I forget that all-important factor? Where are my priorities?/s

[ex-snook]

" Yes, but what will it mean for the “peace negotiations”. Will Kerry and president Selfie force the Israelis to accept to deal with a government that is part Hamas?"

Will deals be better in the future? Whose side is time on? That's the risk.

[ScaniaBoy]

In the long run (5 - 10 years):
Given the demographics of Israel, Judea and Samaria time is definitely on Israel's side. Also, the oil and gas finds in Israeli waters and on Israeli land makes Israel much less vulnerable. A probable economic and possibly poltical crash of the EU/euro would also definitely strengthen Israels position.

In the short run (until January 2017):
The revenge of the US admin for not helping Obama to salvage his presidency will be difficult to handle. The Israelis will surely have to deal with Iran themselves.

[Bluestocking]

It would be as foolish of the Israelis to negotiate with Hamas, whose goal is to destroy Israel, as it would be for the Israelis to negotiate with the Iranians, whose goal is also to destroy Israel.

Israel can’t possibly agree to give its enemies what they want — its own destruction.

So, once the Hamas/PLO unity government is formed, Israel would have no choice but to end the ‘’peace talks’’ in Washington and to refuse to participate in all future ‘’peace talks’’ with the new Hamas/PLO entity.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Eleutheria5.

[Eleutheria5]

B-but the EU offers an unprecedented aid package. There’ll be a military partnership with both sides that will stay good even while the putative Pali state fires rockets at Israel. Those you’re-a-peons will help aim them better, and then help the Israelis shoot them down. It sounds just peachy keen./sarc

[MasterGunner01]

Hamas and the Palestinian Authority form a working government? What to these jabbering camel drivers know about governing anything? They're nothing but thugs and murderers. OK, they can hold off on killing each other until the “unity” government conference.

[Eleutheria5]

Who said anything about forming a government. They’re going to talk about forming a working government, and then go on with their feuding. See Patai on “conferenciasis,” characteristic of Arabs, the compulsion to hold conferences to no end, despite the fact that they achieve nothing.

[MasterGunner01]

Exactly what I was saying. The PA, Hamas, and the other loony tunes aren't going to negotiate anything that works. This is all B.S. for distribution to the gullible Western MSM. The MSM will then run around saying; “Look, the PA and Hamas are cooperating for the good of the Palestinian people.” this is pure horse hockey to embarrass the Israelis and further Arab interests at Israel's expense.

[Eleutheria5]

And all those lefty-indoctrinated college kids will lap it up like mother’s milk, remaining forever clueless until they notice that the same stories are published over and over and over, and the results are always the same.

[MasterGunner01]

Exactly right. The Kool-Aid drinkers will never learn.