Posted on 09/28/2006 11:29:53 AM PDT by Alouette
Israel should not be dismissing de facto recognition by Hamas
Following Hamas' election victory, the Quartet presented three conditions that would have to be met before it recognizes the new government: Recognition of Israel, curbing terror, and honoring past agreements. For Israel, this was certainly an important achievement.
Even though Hamas boasted a large majority in democratic elections, which the world demanded and supervised, the international community was unwilling to automatically approve of the new government before it accepts the pre-conditions, which are so important for Israel.
Today, the Hamas government is finding it difficult to meet residents' exceptions in regards to upholding law and order and is unable to take care of their financial problems. The political support for the organization is gradually eroding, to judge by polls published in the Territories, and Hamas is showing increasing interest in joining forces with Fatah in a national unity government.
Palestinian leader Abbas, who several months ago objected to the establishment of such government, is ready to accept it today as long as Hamas accepts the Quartet's conditions.
However, Hamas views recognition of Israel as shunning its own ideology. The organization is open to various formulas that would imply its willingness to accept other conditions: However, an explicit recognition won't happen.
Washington, with Israel's firm encouragement, says that the absence of such recognition would lead to a boycott of the Palestinian government. This constitutes both an American and an Israeli mistake.
Our utmost interest is the existential security interest. We desire a "return address" that would control the Palestinian Authority and prevent the use of violence of any type against Israelis.
Our need to guarantee the existence of Israel as a democratic state with a Jewish majority requires us to establish a border in the West Bank, and if a Palestinian "return address" emerges, it could be a partner to dialogue in determining the border in the framework of a peace agreement or at least a partial deal.
The main problem we saw is that in the face of Palestinian elements interested in striking deals with us and realizing that the use of force won't address their needs, there were always other elements that thwarted such efforts through the use of violence.
I hoped that a rapid, genuine diplomatic move coupled with assistance to the new Palestinian establishment could guarantee the existence of such return address in the face of radical elements that always depend on desperation and poverty.
Hamas victory a nightmare
To my regret, Israel missed out on the opportunity to lead such rapid move, whether it was because of ideological resistance (Netanyahu thwarted the implementation of the agreement by utilizing his famous "reciprocity principle"), or because of the failed management of negotiations (Barak at Camp David.) Palestinian weakness, PA corruption, and internal Palestinian struggles also had an effect.
Hamas' victory is a nightmare for sanity and rationalism. The win was a direct result of Palestinian despair and the growing sense among PA residents that the Oslo agreement was an Israeli patent meant to create a sense of diplomatic progress while continuing the settlement drive.
The victory is also a result of Israeli folly that allowed Hamas to run in the last elections in complete contradiction of the Oslo agreement, perhaps due to an estimate that a Hamas win will spare Israel any pressure to engage in dialogue with the Palestinians.
Yet Hamas' victory is a fact we cannot ignore, even if we would really like to do so. It also creates an opportunity to create a joint Palestinian address, which we never faced before.
After all, the criticism leveled at agreements with the pragmatic Palestinian camp was that it doesn't represent all Palestinians. The calls for negotiations with Abbas also raised the question of who he represents. "What's the paper he will be signing worth?" some wondered.
In the face of Hamas' refusal to accept the Quartet's terms, the solution Israel should encourage is a separation between de facto recognition and de jure recognition.
The implication would be that as long as Hamas fails to meet Quartet conditions but the Hamas-Fatah government prevents violence against Israel and Israelis, this government will enjoy cooperation on ongoing matters and receive economic aid. If the government does adopt the Quartet's conditions, it will be officially recognized, negotiated with, and its leaders would enjoy the red carpet treatment in their international dealings.
It's difficult for me to comprehend how a dichotomous black-or-white attitude serves the US' interests. Yet I'm convinced such attitude does not serve us. It is possible that as a result of the de facto recognition, a genuine change will take place in Hamas policy and that the organization will indeed ultimately recognize Israel and honor past agreements.
It is possible that for Hamas, recognizing Israel marks the end of the world. Yet for now, in accordance with its leaders' declarations, it will allow Abbas and his people to negotiate a peace deal with Israel and bring it up for a referendum.
If we reach that stage, and if the Palestinian people approve the agreement, it will be Hamas' moment of truth. We have an interest in seeing this moment materialize.
So instead of pressing the international community not to recognize the national unity government being formed, Israel should examine its own interests in a level-headed manner and propose its own "phased plan" in regards to such future PA government.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Insane people don't usually make sense.
Must have been the voices in his head that he heard declaring Hamas victory. [/tinfoil]
Yossi Beilin has been hitting the crack pipe a bit too hard lately!
Yes we dew!
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