March 9, 2003
TURN THE FURY INWARDS:
Abu Mazen appointment could challenge Hamas (Danny Rubinstein, 09/03/2003, Ha'aretz)Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat on Saturday described al-Makadme's assassination as a "mafia-style" operation conducted by Israeli security forces. His statement reflected Palestinian leaders' concern that the assassination could aid Hamas spokesmen in mounting a major media campaign against the PA, which is busy attempting find to pave a way back to political negotiations with Israel. "While you sit at the negotiating table with the Zionists, they are massacring us," say Hamas activists, just as the Palestinian Liberation Organization central council and the Palestinian Legislative Council are convening in Ramallah.There is no Hamas representation in either of the two Palestinian national bodies - which are discussing the appointment of Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) as Palestinian prime minister - even though Hamas is the second largest Palestinian movement (and some say that it already has more followers in the Gaza Strip than Arafat's Fatah party). Indeed, the political positions of the new Palestinian prime minister directly contradict those of Hamas.
Abu Mazen helped forge the Oslo agreements, which Hamas considered one of the most treacherous acts in the history of the Palestinian nation. He is also one of the few Palestinian senior leaders who doesn't hesitate to publicly voice his opposition to the use of violence in the intifada. In negotiations held between Palestinian organizations in Cairo over the last few weeks, Abu Mazen, representing Fatah, argued vociferously with Hamas delegation representative, Haled Mashal, regarding the Egyptian proposalt to halt terror attacks.
Hamas could interpret Abu Mazen's appointment as an open provocation. As of now, with the assassination of al-Makadme, it's almost certain that Hamas leaders will go back to hinting that PA security forces are cooperating with Israeli security forces in an effort to eliminate Hamas altogether.
These are the kinds of internal divisions that would work to Israel's great advantage if it were to unilaterally impose statehood on the Palestinians. Give them a country to run and let them fight amongst themselves. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 9, 2003 8:15 AM
These are the kinds of internal divisions that will explode once Saddam is gone. PLO/Fatah and Hamas are both clients of Saddam, and they have always cooperated under his direction. Once he's gone, there will be no godfather to enforce order. And attacking each other for power in a small PA will be much safer than fighting the Israelis: so turn they will.
Declaring a state is unnecessary, it could even reduce the likelihood of fighting by strengthening whoever is identified sovereign.
Would we have stopped demanding independence if the French had bailed out on us?
Posted by: oj at March 9, 2003 1:38 PMNo, they'll still demand independence, and even if they stopped demanding it, they'd still get it. I'm just saying the Palestinian state can be declared on our schedule. There is no urgency. We can pick the best time. Maybe now is the best time, but I haven't been convinced.
Posted by: Paul Jaminet at March 9, 2003 1:51 PMUntil there's a state that's the unifying principle.
Posted by: oj at March 9, 2003 6:18 PMIsn't the unifying principle the destruction of Israel?
Posted by: pj at March 10, 2003 9:43 AM