Hamas Digs In, Dimming Hopes for Mideast Peace Talks

[oberliner]

GAZA -- In the two years since it seized power here, the militant Hamas movement has undercut the influence of the Gaza Strip's major clans, brought competing paramilitary groups under its control, put down an uprising by a rival Islamist group, weathered a three-week war with Israel, worked around a strict economic embargo -- and through it all refused a set of international demands that could begin Gaza's rehabilitation.

That combination of durability and unwillingness to compromise has created a deep-seated stalemate that has left top Israeli intelligence and political officials perplexed about what to do, and posed a steep obstacle for U.S. peace envoy George J. Mitchell. While Mitchell's work in Northern Ireland in the 1990s included intense negotiations to bring the most militant parties into the process, his eight months of talks about Israeli-Palestinian peace have so far avoided any obvious effort to do the same with Hamas, and have been conducted, in effect, with only half of the Palestinian political leadership.

A separate Egyptian effort aims to reunite Hamas with the pro-U.S., West Bank-based government of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, create a joint security force, and pave the way for elections next year that could bring Palestinian society under a single political leadership. But Palestinian, Israeli and international diplomats and analysts give the process only a slim chance of success, and see little sign that Hamas is ready to trade its clear control of the Gaza Strip for a seat at the negotiating table.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/06/AR2009100602146.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[bemildred]

1. So, the current policies for dealing with Hamas have failed, and will probably continue to fail. nt

[damntexdem]

2. Hamas and the Israeli Government -- twin peas in the pod.

Each makes sure the other never needs to confront actual efforts at resolving the issues.

[Chulanowa]

3. Perhaps if the "preconditions" didn't equal complete surrender...

I know, wacky idea, right?

[Vegasaurus]

5. What are you talking about?

The Palestinians haven't made a single concession, not one.

Israel has give up land, released prisoners, provided economic incentives, etc.

[Chulanowa]

6. Don't play dumb - even if you really ARE dumb

The list of preconditions for Hamas to come to the table is surrender - they are to disarm, renounce violence, let the Palestinian Authority take over Gaza, and "recognize Israel". And then maybe they'll get to talk about negotiations.

There is no need for the Palestinians to concede a goddamned thing, nor is there anything they can afford to concede as a precondition.

[Vegasaurus]

7. And you think not disarming and stopping violence has worked well to get them a state?

Talk about dumb!

[aranthus]

12. Recognizing the other side and renouncing violence = surrender?

Only if you're committed to violently destroying the other side.

[azurnoir]

4. Hamas: Unity talks still on despite Gaza report controversy

Hamas denied news reports on Tuesday that the movement added new conditions for a proposed Palestinian unity deal as a result of the deferral of action on the Goldstone report on war crimes in Gaza.

“We have not set any new preconditions because we appreciate the Egyptian efforts and we are interested in completing a conciliation agreement,” Hamas spokesperson said over the phone.

Barhoum also explained that his movement and other factions were invited to a meeting on 26 October in Cairo at which a unity deal will reportedly be signed.The extent of our knowledge is that delegations will leave to Cairo on 18 October to begin dialogue on the 19th hoping to sign agreement before the end of the month, he added.

The Hamas official said the Palestinian Authority’s decision to defer action on the Goldstone report in the UN Human Rights Council did not, however, indicate good will for reconciliation.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=230128

[ProgressiveMuslim]

8. This post is comical in light of Lieberman's statements today.

[LeftishBrit]

9. Neither Hamas nor Lieberman seem to have much interest in peace...

the extremists of all sides have a certain amount in common.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

10. Bullshit.

Your continued need to play the "most of the people are moderates in the middle, and these crazy extremists have mysteriously seized power and we are helpless to do anything about it" card is nonsense, LB.

Read the situation for what it is.

Israel continues to build settlements, giving the bird to the entire civilized world. Leiberman isn't the one steering those bulldozers.

Cut the crap.

[aranthus]

11. Hamas didn't just take power either.

They were elected and continue a tradition of Palestinian rejectionism going back over seventy years.