by Elliott Abrams
By Reuters
An "internal matter between the Palestinians" ....
Americans really need to clean out the trash bins in Washington DC come November - it is already stinking to high heaven.
February 7, 2012
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal (L-R) talk before an agreement signing ceremony in Doha February 6, 2012. The leaders of rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed a deal in Qatar on Monday to form a unity government of independent technocrats for the West Bank and Gaza, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (Courtesy REUTERS/Stringer)
Once upon a time, progress toward Israeli-Palestinian peace was thought to require reform of Palestinian political institutions. Creation of the post of Palestinian Authority (PA) prime minister, separate from that of PA president, was viewed as a milestone. On March 14, 2003, President Bush marked creation of the prime minister post in a press conference:
the Palestinian Authority has created the new position of Prime Minister. Israeli and Palestinian leaders and other governments in the region now have a chance to move forward with determination and with good faith. To be a credible and responsible partner, the new Palestinian Prime Minister must hold a position of real authority. We expect that such a Palestinian Prime Minister will be confirmed soon. Immediately upon confirmation, the road map for peace will be given to the Palestinians and the Israelis…
This week Hamas and Fatah negotiated some sort of “unity” or “reconciliation” agreement, and the PA/Fatah negotiator was none other than the prime minister of whom Bush was speaking 9 years ago: Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas became president of the PA after the death of Arafat, and is now in the 7th year of his 4 year term. Times have changed, as my CFR colleague Rob Danin has noted:
In an innovation that apparently violates the Palestinian Basic Law, the two sides agreed that Mahmoud Abbas would serve as both president and prime minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Recall, the PA’s prime minister position was established in 2003 and Abbas was appointed to that post to reduce the absolute powers of the presidency, then in Yassir Arafat’s hands. Ironically, it is now Abbas as president who is seeking to claim back what he once tried to take away.
Nicely put. And Rob is right: Article 45 of the Basic Law says “The President of the National Authority shall appoint the Prime Minister and authorize the latter to constitute his government. The President shall have the right to dismiss the Prime Minister or to accept his resignation and to request him to convene the Council of Ministers.”
But of course, Abbas will not hold absolute power in his hands, for when it comes to Gaza he will have no power at all. It is rumored that under the deal there will be a deputy prime minister for the West Bank and one for Gaza, so in essence Hamas will still rule Gaza while Fatah rules the West Bank. Why then go through the contortions of this “reconciliation” agreement? For one thing the Amir of Qatar brought Abbas and the Hamas leader Khaled Meshal to Doha, and the Amir has many means of persuasion, particularly for folks whose bank accounts are thin. For another, no Palestinian leader likes to be cast as “against reconciliation,” so it is usually easier to go along. And anyway, just as the previous “reconciliation” efforts failed, this one can be allowed to fail as well if it becomes troublesome for the participants.
But there is a price to pay for these theatrics, for no one can seriously expect Israel to negotiate peace with a combined Fatah-Hamas team when Hamas is dedicated to Israel’s destruction. It is not the PA but the PLO that formally negotiates with Israel, and one of the most damaging aspects of the “reconciliation” agreement is that Hamas is supposed to join the PLO. Once it does, all but the most ardent peace-processors will have to admit the negotiations track is truly frozen. Yes, perhaps Hamas will magically take that occasion to abandon its previous hatred of Jews and Israel, abandon terrorism, and declare itself ready for peace with Israel. If so, let’s all go back to Camp David or Annapolis for another round. If not, if Hamas is admitted into the PA government and the PLO as the terrorist group it is today, let’s acknowledge that the Palestinian leadership has turned away from any genuine effort to negotiate peace.
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Bee's Notes:
Oops! The ink isn't dry and here we go again! Posted on The Jerusalem Post:
Palestinians slam selection of Abbas as PM in unity deal
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH02/07/2012 20:56
"This is a scandal not only because it violates the [Palestinian] Basic Law, but also because it turns Abbas into an autocrat with absolute powers," senior Fatah official says of unity deal with Hamas.Palestinians across the political spectrum Tuesday criticized the Qatari-sponsored Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreementaccording to which Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would also serve as prime minister of an interim unity government. continue reading....
and, this latest "unity" between terrorists has appeared to cause some embarrassment in the White House - because the King of Golfers has suddenly lost his tongue!
US: ‘No Comment’ on Palestinian Unity Agreement
Obama administration failed to comment on Fatah, Hamas reconciliation agreement; "internal matter for Palestinians."
By Rachel Hirshfeld
First Publish: 2/7/2012, 7:15 PM
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas
Israel news photo: Flash 90
The Obama administration refused to comment on the reconciliation agreement signed between Fatah and Hamas in Qatar on Monday.
Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the agreement, calling it “a moral blow to peace and a great victory for terrorism.”
The American administration, however, refused to comment on thisdevelopment, as US State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland stated, “As we’ve said many times, questions of Palestinian reconciliation are an internal matter for Palestinians,” but asserted that “both of these parties ought to stay committed to this [peace] process.” continue reading ...
Hey, Obama, do you have any idea how pathetic you sound?! No wonder you are known in the Middle East as "weak" . Here's a guy who can't pass a mirror without asking it "who's the fairest of them all?" and insists on boring Americans with daily tidbits on national TV ... and that's all he can say, as Hamas terrorists join up with Fatah!
Americans really need to clean out the trash bins in Washington DC come November - it is already stinking to high heaven.undefined