Hamas-Fatah Reconciliation: “Israel”, US Slam, Iran Hails

Nour Rida

The two Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas agreed Wednesday to reconcile and form an interim government ahead of elections, after a four-year period of conflicts, in what both sides hailed as a chance to start a fresh page in their national history.
This while fear mongers among "Israelis" and the US shows concern as such a step constitutes a threat to the so-called peace process with the Zionist entity.

Egypt has hosted the first signing of a reconciliation deal between Hamas and Fatah, senior Hamas politburo official Izzat Al Resheq said. Egypt will invite various factions to sign the final agreement within the week in the presence of Hamas politburo chairman Khalid Mishaal and Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas.
Different Hamas leaders, leaders of Fatah movement, leftist factions and independent figures in Palestine expressed support to the draft unity deal and called for ensuring the success of the final reconciliation agreement that will be signed in Cairo next week. The P.A said talks with "Israel" cannot be resumed while it constructs and expands settlements, and while it is ongoing with its invasions and assaults against the Palestinian people, their lands and property, and their holy sites. It also demanded "Israel" to stop the demolishing of Arab homes in Jerusalem.

"Israeli-US" Fear of A United Palestine  

Netanyahu said that peace with "Israel" and reconciliation with the Hamas movement cannot go hand in hand, "Israeli" daily, according to Haaretz.

The "Israeli" Prime Minister said that "peace with both "Israel" and Hamas is impossible, adding that Hamas believes in the destruction of "Israel" and in ongoing firing of shells into "Israeli" areas.

Speaking to Army Radio on Thursday, "Israeli" Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on his part expressed fears that Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip would eventually take over the Palestinian Authority-ruled West Bank as well, using, among other things, freed Hamas activists.

"Hamas + Fatah = probable suspension of U.S. aid to Palestinian Authority..." that was a tweet of Mark Kirk, the Republican Senator from Illinois, and that is what twitters in the heads of the other US officials, as the announcement on Wednesday that Fatah and Hamas had signed a reconciliation agreement was made unwelcome by several United States Congress people, who said the reconciliation could result in a cutting of U.S. aid to the resulting Palestinian government.   

  The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Chairwoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, released a statement saying "According to existing U.S. law, such a hybrid government cannot be a recipient of U.S. taxpayer funds because the law stipulates that the PA government must recognize the Jewish state of Israel's right to exist, among other things. Therefore, in order to implement existing law, the U.S. must end assistance to the Palestinian Authority."

The official White House response to the announcement was to reiterate that the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas was a "terrorist organization". They also said that any Palestinian government would have to renounce violence.

Also, Congressman Gary Ackerman, warned that the reconciliation is "a recipe for failure, mixed with violence, leading to disaster".

Iran Hails Palestinian Deal

Iran, meanwhile, hailed the reconciliation deal reached by the rival Palestinian groups to set up a transitional unity government and hold elections.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi whose nation staunchly backs Islamist movement Hamas said he "welcomed" the agreement, IRNA reported.

He said that unity between the two groups and resistance against the "Zionist occupiers (Israeli regime)" would help the Palestinians achieve their rights.

Salehi expressed hope that the unity deal would accelerate Palestinians' progress and lead to victories against occupiers.

The top Iranian diplomat also expressed hope for the immediate reopening of the Rafah Crossing and access of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip to basic supplies.