In spite of well-founded predictions that this would never happen, a
Fatah-Hamas unity government was sworn in today in Ramallah, to much
fanfare. It is to be headed by Prime Minister Rami
Hamdallah (pictured below), former president of
An-Najah National University in Nablus, who had been appointed by
Abbas.
Credit:
brecorder
Under this new arrangement, the areas of Judea and Samaria administered by
the PA and Gaza will be governed by the same political entity. There are, as I
understand it, 17 ministers, five of them from Hamas. You can see the
listing of the members of the government here: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=3D701510
Some are new appointments, but eight people retain
the positions they previously had.
One of the primary goals of this new government is the supervision of
elections, which are slated for 2015. Do not expect this to go
smoothly.
~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first unity government between the two major Palestinian Arab
factions to be established in seven years. That is when Hamas, after
winning PA elections, violently wrested control of Gaza and established a
separate polity there. Several attempts at reconciliation in the interim failed.
Even today, at the very last moment, it looked as if things would fall
apart because Hamas suddenly insisted on a ministry and minister for prisoner
affairs. But the PA was treading carefully on this because of intimations
that the US frowned upon this ministry. Abbas had said a separate agency
that was not part of the government might be established. In the end, a
compromise was reached in which there would still be a ministry, but no minister
would be appointed – the ministry would be under the direct supervision of
Hamdallah.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hamdallah for his part had said earlier that the prisoner issue was a top
priority and that the Prisoners Law would continue to be implemented.
I wish to be very clear about this: the law provides salaries to terrorists
in Israeli prisons, with the level of salary calibrated to the severity of the
crime. The Palestinian Media Watch has been doing battle with the State
Department on this matter. For State continues to make reference to the need to
provide support for the families of those in prison (thereby representing this
as a welfare law of some humanitarian dimensions). PMW has documented,
however, that the payment is to the prisoners.
See: http://palwatch.org/STORAGE/special%20reports/4_reports_PA_salaries_to_terrorists_Feb_13_2013.pdf
The US government would, understandably, be defensive about this. For the
“terrorist salaries” have been drawn from the PA’s general budget, which means
from monies donated to the PA. Many tens of millions in US funds (US
taxpayer funds) go to the PA, with some of this – estimated at $46 million
- used for the prisoners.
~~~~~~~~~~
The support for the prisoners is is a major issue for the Palestinian
Arabs, for they see these people as “martyrs,” heroes who fought for their
cause. Which tells us a great deal.
~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of prisoners....
The Shin Bet has revealed that it has blocked 11 different attempts to
kidnap Israelis – both soldiers and private citizens – that were orchestrated
from inside Israeli prisons.
The prisoners, who were members of Hamas, Fatah, and other Islamic
organizations, were in communication with terrorists on the outside, who were
instructed to activate the kidnappings. The goal was to force trades that would
secure the release of the prisoners who had instigated the kidnappings.
There are dozens of other reasons not to release terrorists in prison, but
this alone is sufficient reason. No terrorist in an Israeli prison should
believe that his release can be assured in this fashion.
~~~~~~~~~~
A bill was being promoted – by MK Ayelet Shaked
(Habayit Hayehudi) and MK David Tzur (Hatnua) - that would give judges the option
during sentencing (primarily sentencing of terrorists, although this is not
specified) of blocking any possibility of future early pardon. This was designed
to prevent release of terrorists for political reasons. It would, said
Shaked, restore a modicum of sanity to the country. Indeed. Coalition head MK Yariv Levin
(Likud) and Yisrael
Beiteinu faction leader Robert Ilatov (Yisrael
Beitenur faction head) were among those who also signed on to the
proposal.
But Prime Minister Netanyahu blocked the vote, according to various reports
thereby incurring considerable anger on the part of Naftali Bennett (head of
Habayit Hayehudi). Then Netanyahu said it will be considered by the Security
Cabinet instead, which apparently mollified Bennett somewhat. And I? I
throw up my hands. The political machinations are more complex than
anything I wish to discuss in detail here.
What I will note is that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein had a role in
this, which should surprise no one.
What is so incredible is that this law would apply only to future
sentencing (those now in prison could still be pardoned for political reasons),
and yet this caused political tensions.
~~~~~~~~~~
Returning to the matter of the new unity
government...
It came as a surprise that Hamas prime
minister Ismail Haniyeh and his cabinet have resigned, thereby making way for
the new unity government. Originally, he had said he would insist on
maintaining control.
Abbas, meanwhile, has declared that the
new government would be established on the “Palestinian principles” of “recognizing Israel, recognizing the terms of international
agreements, and the explicit rejection of violence and terrorism.”
This is a sick joke. A ploy. I have
referred in the past to fancy political footwork, and that’s what we’re seeing.
Hamas ostensibly withdraws to the background and Abbas says, “See, we’re all on
board here.” Not if Hamas is part of that government, they’re not.
And that’s without even considering the fact that Fatah, as the PA, has itself
never explicitly rejected violence.
~~~~~~~~~~
My concern is that the international
community will find it convenient to buy into this ruse and again pressure
Israel to negotiate or otherwise offer cooperation. Israel has said that
there will be no negotiations with a government that includes Hamas. The
US government is supporting this position, for the moment. But Kerry, while
expressing concern about Hamas, has had communication with Abbas and will be
meeting with him.
He is saying the US will not accept the
unity government “initially.” Not encouraging. He’s saying, “Convince me,
guys.”
If there is any good news with regard to
US involvement in “peace negotiations,” it is that Obama gave a major foreign
policy speech without mentioning this. And there is talk about cutting US
support for the new unity government – but this comes from Congress and not the
White House or State Department.
~~~~~~~~~~
Most news sources I’m seeing are saying
that Netanyahu has declared he will hold the PA responsible for any rocket fire
from Gaza, now that there is only one government. But there is much more
to it than this.
Over the past several years, Israel –
even while aware of the stockpiling of rockets in Gaza – maintained a policy of
“quiet for quiet” (Hamas doesn’t launch those rockets and Israel refrains from
attacking Hamas – a policy I always thought was bananas). Now, however,
there is a different scenario in play:
According to the Guardian, Intelligence Minister Yuval
Steinitz is insisting on the record that Abbas now had an obligation as part of
the Oslo agreement, to demilitarize Gaza. (For the record, Interim Agreement of 1995, Chapter 2, Article XIV 4 outlines what weapons are permitted for the PA police, etc. and rockets are not included. See: http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=63724)
And Netanyahu is quoted as saying, "Enough of these tricks. If this new Palestinian government has regained sovereignty over Gaza the first thing that Abbas should do is announce he is starting demilitarization of Gaza."
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/02/palestinian-unity-government-sworn-in-fatah-hamas
But that is not exactly what the Security Cabinet has now said: http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=63959. The issue of Abbas’s obligation to remove rockets from Gaza is skirted.
~~~~~~~~~~
© Arlene Kushner.
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