Harming the cause boosts the enemy

Jan.2, 2008

Harming the cause boosts the enemy

THE Hamas-Fatah conflict is marking another unwanted bloody chapter contributing to weakening the Palestinian struggle for independence. By refusing to accept Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's call for dialogue for reconcliation and setting their conditions for any talks, Hamas leaders are showing that they are riding high on their physical control of the Gaza Strip. They know well that Hamas would be have to counted in any meaningly process involving the Palestinians as long the group remains in control of the Gaza Strip, and thus they feel that they hold the upper hand in any dealing with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) headed by Abbas.
On the other hand, Abbas is treading in delicate waters. He knows that the international community is supporting him in his endeavours for peace with Israel, but is handicapped by the Hamas control of the Gaza Strip and Israel's threat to suspend peace talks with him if the PNA launches dialogue with Hamas.
It was natural that Abbas qualified his call for dialogue with Hamas by insisting that the group had to return the Gaza Strip to PNA control before any dialogue could take place. That is also an implicit message to the Israelis that he is not offering reconciliation while accepting the Hamas seizure and control of the Gaza Strip as fait accompli.
Abbas's latest public attempt at reconciliation with Hamas received a resounding rebuff from the rulers of Gaza who rejected his conditions and demanded that the PNA free all "political detainees" — meaning Hamas activists in PNA detention — and halt its pursuit of Hamas loyalists in the West Bank.
Again, Abbas faces another dilemma. Under the "road map" peace plan that is the basis for the renewed peace talks with Israel, Abbas is supposed to rein in armed resistance against Israel. If he agrees to release Hamas fighters in PNA detention, he would be cited by Israel as not only not living up to his obligations but also as encouraging armed resistance. This in turn would be a pretext for Israel not to meet its obligations — mainly suspension of all settlement work in the occupied territories.
At this juncture in time, it would seem that Hamas leaders and Abbas are digging in their heels and the emerging picture does not leave room for hope for any Hamas-Fatah breakthrough.
The only light at the end of the tunnel is the hope that ongoing behind-the-scene Arab mediation could soon produce a positive result since the Palestinians, represented by Fatah, Hamas or any other group, could not but be aware that it is the strength of their struggle for freedom and independence that is being eroded by their in-fighting and that they are playing into Israel's hands.