There is no way that this is good for the Palestinians
The UN finally made a statement, which appears to be masterful statesmanship.
Speaking for the Mid-East Quartet - the EU, the US, Russia and the UN - Mr Annan said any new government must accept previous agreements.
This is the rather carefully worded statement issued by Mr. Annan
The Quartet's statement, read by Mr Annan after a meeting in London, said: "All members of the future Palestinian government must be committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the roadmap."
to which Hamas responded
"The Quartet should have demanded an end to [Israeli] occupation and aggression... not demanded that the victim should recognise the occupation and stand handcuffed in the face of the aggression," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.
At issue is a billion USD in funding by the EU and US, to the Palestinian Authority and the above statement refers to Isreal itself and not just the occupied territories. Hamas has never backed down from the goal of destroying Isreal. Until they publically step away from tha, they are dangerous.
Regardless of how this ends, I think it's a good-thing(tm). This is because Hamas has been the single largest stumbling block among the Palestinians since before Arafat. Fatah may be the visible dog but Hamas was always the rock-hard kernel of resistance and any gains made were always turned back by Hamas. They are and always have been the major obstructionist for Iseal/Palestine peace plans, even though they always try to blame it on the Isrealis or the US.
The problem has always been that Hamas was always hiding behind Arafat and Fatah. Arafat is no longer there and they just shot Fatah in the back. Now they are out in the open where everyone can see what they want, how they are, and the degree of their hatred for the Isreali people. People can also clearly see that there is no negotiation with Hamas. They want nothing less than to destroy the state of Isreal. Until they actually declare that they are giving up that goal there is no negotiating with them.
Negotiating property lines is sort of moot when the other bloke really is trying to kill you.
Speaking for the Mid-East Quartet - the EU, the US, Russia and the UN - Mr Annan said any new government must accept previous agreements.
This is the rather carefully worded statement issued by Mr. Annan
The Quartet's statement, read by Mr Annan after a meeting in London, said: "All members of the future Palestinian government must be committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the roadmap."
to which Hamas responded
"The Quartet should have demanded an end to [Israeli] occupation and aggression... not demanded that the victim should recognise the occupation and stand handcuffed in the face of the aggression," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.
At issue is a billion USD in funding by the EU and US, to the Palestinian Authority and the above statement refers to Isreal itself and not just the occupied territories. Hamas has never backed down from the goal of destroying Isreal. Until they publically step away from tha, they are dangerous.
Regardless of how this ends, I think it's a good-thing(tm). This is because Hamas has been the single largest stumbling block among the Palestinians since before Arafat. Fatah may be the visible dog but Hamas was always the rock-hard kernel of resistance and any gains made were always turned back by Hamas. They are and always have been the major obstructionist for Iseal/Palestine peace plans, even though they always try to blame it on the Isrealis or the US.
The problem has always been that Hamas was always hiding behind Arafat and Fatah. Arafat is no longer there and they just shot Fatah in the back. Now they are out in the open where everyone can see what they want, how they are, and the degree of their hatred for the Isreali people. People can also clearly see that there is no negotiation with Hamas. They want nothing less than to destroy the state of Isreal. Until they actually declare that they are giving up that goal there is no negotiating with them.
Negotiating property lines is sort of moot when the other bloke really is trying to kill you.