Today was a day full of interesting developments in Israel / Palestine. The Jewish Press reports:
Al Jazeera English also reports on the formation of a Palestinian unity government:
The Jewish Press further reports that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu slammed the European Union support for the Palestinian Authority unity deal between Fatah and Hamas. According to the article by Rachel Levy:
To understand why the US and Europe are more open to recognising and supporting current efforts to form a unity government, we go back to Al Jazeera English ('Paradigm shift': Paestinians join treaties) which reports that earlier this year, "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed applications to join 15 international treaties and conventions, including the Geneva Conventions, which articulate the laws of war." Approval has since been given for the joining of 14 treaties and (one) the Geneva Convention.
I welcome a Palestinian unity government that unites the people of the West Bank and Gaza and gives the Palestinian people more stability, security and safety in everything.
I welcome a Palestinian unity government which binds both Fatah and Hamas to the international treaties and conventions they became a party to.
I welcome a Palestinian unity government which will hopefully encourage Hamas to find a 'graceful way' of stopping their campaign of hatred and violence against Israel and to finally acknowledge the existence of Israel.
The facts are simple - There are two sides who both lay claim to the same piece of land. Neither side is going to go away, neither side is going to rethink their claim to the land or to Jerusalem, neither side is going to suddenly disappear from the face of the earth.
If Hamas truly wants the best for all the Palestinian people, let them finally acknowledge the facts as they are. Let them show that their citizens come before their militaristic goals and that they can act like caring and responsible grown-ups instead of angry teenagers lashing out. Pretending that Israel doesn't exist won't make the lives of the Palestinian people better, it will only further misunderstanding and distrust between two people who - whether they like it or not - are stuck with each other.
There is a wall separating the Jewish and the Palestinian people - Both a literal wall made up of borders and security barriers, and one built up in the minds and hearts of the people. As long as Hamas refuses to stop their campaign of hatred and violence against Israel, the wall separating the Israelis and the Palestinians will remain. The only way to make the wall come down, to allow two kind and loving peoples to get to know each other as friends, neighbours and equals, is for all parties involved to finally agree to start working towards a sustainable peace which benefits all parties and the entire Middle East.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas swore in what he called a new PA “unity government” today (Monday) at 1:00 p.m. local time in a televised ceremony in Ramallah.
“Today, after announcing the government of national unity we declare the end of division that caused catastrophic harm to our cause,” Abbas said. “This black page in the history (of the Palestinians) has been turned forever, and we will not allow it to come back.”Source : The Wedding is On – Hamas and Fatah Unite in Palestinian Authority, The Jewish Press
Al Jazeera English also reports on the formation of a Palestinian unity government:
In a pre-recorded message that aired on Palestine TV, Abbas said the new government was transitional, and that negotiations with Israel would remain in the hands of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. "This government, like its predecessors, will abide by all previously signed agreements and the PLO's political agenda," he said.
The PLO is the highest representative body for Palestinians worldwide. The PA was created for a provisional period to manage the territories Israel withdrew from in accordance with the Oslo Accords.
...
Back in 2007, when a short-lived unity government was forged between Fatah and Hamas, Western countries withheld aid from the Palestinians. Circumstances have changed, and the US and the EU signalling they are open to testing the waters of this new government.Source: Palestinians form consensus government, Al Jazeera English
The Jewish Press further reports that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu slammed the European Union support for the Palestinian Authority unity deal between Fatah and Hamas. According to the article by Rachel Levy:
[Netanyahu] told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday he finds it "strange that European governments who strongly condemn the shooting attacks in Brussels, at the same time speak kindly of the unity agreement with Hamas, a terrorist organization that carries out and praises such attacks."Source: Netanyahu: European Position on Hamas, PA Unity is 'Strange', The Jewish Press
To understand why the US and Europe are more open to recognising and supporting current efforts to form a unity government, we go back to Al Jazeera English ('Paradigm shift': Paestinians join treaties) which reports that earlier this year, "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed applications to join 15 international treaties and conventions, including the Geneva Conventions, which articulate the laws of war." Approval has since been given for the joining of 14 treaties and (one) the Geneva Convention.
I welcome a Palestinian unity government that unites the people of the West Bank and Gaza and gives the Palestinian people more stability, security and safety in everything.
I welcome a Palestinian unity government which binds both Fatah and Hamas to the international treaties and conventions they became a party to.
I welcome a Palestinian unity government which will hopefully encourage Hamas to find a 'graceful way' of stopping their campaign of hatred and violence against Israel and to finally acknowledge the existence of Israel.
The facts are simple - There are two sides who both lay claim to the same piece of land. Neither side is going to go away, neither side is going to rethink their claim to the land or to Jerusalem, neither side is going to suddenly disappear from the face of the earth.
If Hamas truly wants the best for all the Palestinian people, let them finally acknowledge the facts as they are. Let them show that their citizens come before their militaristic goals and that they can act like caring and responsible grown-ups instead of angry teenagers lashing out. Pretending that Israel doesn't exist won't make the lives of the Palestinian people better, it will only further misunderstanding and distrust between two people who - whether they like it or not - are stuck with each other.
There is a wall separating the Jewish and the Palestinian people - Both a literal wall made up of borders and security barriers, and one built up in the minds and hearts of the people. As long as Hamas refuses to stop their campaign of hatred and violence against Israel, the wall separating the Israelis and the Palestinians will remain. The only way to make the wall come down, to allow two kind and loving peoples to get to know each other as friends, neighbours and equals, is for all parties involved to finally agree to start working towards a sustainable peace which benefits all parties and the entire Middle East.