One of the biggest problems in dealing with the PLO / PA in recent times is that they were not the perpetrators of most of the attacks on Israel. Since other forces were doers of the evil deeds, the PA could sit back and say "we are working with them". No one ever held the PA to results. As long as they condemned the bombings and attacks they were heralded as "peace partners"
That era is over.
Now that Hamas is the government they are in a serious bind. Any attack by Hamas is now an official act of war, especially given their party platform of wiping out Israel.
They will not be able to make vauge threats behind their masks.
They will have to formally declare if they are for or against the "roadmap" for peace.
This puts the Euros in a big bind as well. For years they have been able to say the PA was a peace partner in the middle east even while Hamas blew up pizza parlors and salons throughout Israel. They then blamed the attacks on Israel not following the peace process. Now the stated goal of the "Palestinian Government" is to wipe Israel off the map, pie in the sky though it may be. Can the Euros seriously continue to equate the two sides when one is dismantling and withdrawing while the other continues with its bellicose rhetoric?
Things just got really interesting in the Middle East. I can't wait to kick my feet up with some freshly microwaved popcorn and watch the fireworks.
I agree with your analysis. Hamas IMO was not prepared to govern but wanted to remain in the shadows to be a thorn in the side of the Fatah Party.
YES!! Of course, Europa's thumb will be one of the scales.
YES!! Of course, Europa's thumb will be on one of the scales.