Fatah-Hamas Deal: Three Scenarios
The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: 'O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him." (Hamas Charter: Article 7) T he reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas came to a draft agreement in last week. The core of the new Hamas-Fatah deal is agreeing to a unity and power-sharing of two parties mentioned. Palestinian division, playing so-called "moderates" against "extremists", has been key element of US/EU and Israeli policy almost a decade. If the Palestinian unity deal holds it can open the Middle-East deadlock – but which way remains too see. I see at least three different scenarios as outcome: Israel makes a deal with Palestinian representatives No Israeli-Palestinian negotiations – UN recognises Palestine Israel annexes part of West Bank – cold peace Some background "This is our answer to the...