Fmr. Israeli Amb. to UN Criticizes Fatah-Hamas Unity Deal

Writing at Foreign Policy, former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Dore Gold argues that the recent Fatah-Hamas unity deal makes permanent peace with Israel, less, not more likely.  Gold states that the reconciliation is part of Mahmoud Abbas’s push for recognition of Palestinian statehood at the U.N. General Assembly in September but says such efforts suffer from a “fundamental misconception.”  Gold reiterates that the General Assembly has no power or authority to make decisions about the existence of new states.  The Assembly can pass a non-binding resolution supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state; but Abbas would have to actually declare it himself and then seek recognition from countries individually.  Hamas, Gold states, is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., Canada, and the EU and, “serves as a proxy for Iran.”  This will make it hard for the Palestinians to gain backing from major Western powers.  He also points out that Hamas has continued to state its opposition to the existence of Israel and that it plans to continue “on the path of jihad.”  The groups refusal to accept the Quartet (U.S., EU, U.N., Russia) conditions of renouncing violence and recognizing Israel’s right to exist will jeopardize European diplomatic support for Abbas’s initiative.   Gold closes by arguing that Abbas has “recalculated” his interests in the wake of the Egyptian revolution but in doing so has jeopardizes the chances of peace with Israel.

In a staff editorial, Ha’aretz argues that Israel should abandon its attempts to forestall the process of international recognition of Palestinian statehood.  While the editorial recognizes that the establishment of a Palestinian state without an agreement with Israel would not be a “magic solution” that ends the conflict, Ha’aretz asserts that Israel would benefit internationally by, “standing genially beside the nascent Palestinian state’s cradle.”  Israel, the editorial argues, can be master of its own fate by being the first to welcome the Palestinian “sister-state,” and negotiate the issues of borders, refugees and settlements as two sovereign states.  This will bestow upon the Palestinians the same responsibilities required of states regardless of who controls the government and allow Israel to regain its standing in the international community.