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U.S. Secretary Rice to Hold Trilateral Summit with Olmert and Abbas Monday in Jerusalem
Talks Will Focus on P.A. Unity Government and its Rejection of Quartet Conditions
United States (U.S) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will convene a trilateral summit in Jerusalem tomorrow, Feb.19th, with Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority (P.A.) President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).
This will be the third time Olmert and Abbas have met in recent months. [See below]
The meeting comes 11 days after Fatah and Hamas signed the Mecca Agreement, which details the formation of a Palestinian unity government, following weeks of bloody Palestinian infighting in Gaza that left scores dead, hundreds wounded and caused millions of dollars in damage to infrastructure. [1]
Talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down after Hamas took power in January 2006. In addition, members of the international community sanctioned Hamas, a designated terrorist by the European Union, [2] the United States, [3] Israel, [4] Canada [5] and Australia. [6] Hamas receives support from Iran, as does Hezbollah, which began a war with Israel this past summer.
The Quartet – U.S., European Union (E.U.), United Nations (U.N.) and Russia – is the international observer body commissioned to mediate between the two sides, [7] which stipulates three conditions for the P.A. government to recieve international aid: Recognition of Israel, renouncing terror (including the return of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit) and honoring previous peace agreements. [8]
Even though Hamas and Fatah express confidence in the Mecca Agreement, the new unity government does not recognize the State of Israel. [9]
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Feb. 17th, at a press briefing with U.S. Secretary Rice that “It is crucial to understand that Israel and the international community expect any Palestinian government to meet these requirements fully and completely. These requirements are not an obstacle to peace, but they are the basic conditions and the foundation for the vision of a two-state solution.” [10]
Monday’s meeting will discuss the validity of the unity government. [11]
Background and Key Facts
Some skepticism of the new P.A. government emerged recently because after signing the Mecca Agreemen, Hamas’ political posture towards Israel did not evolve and the movement did alter its radical Islamic platform. [12]
Uncertainty for Hamas’s compliance to the Mecca Agreement can be traced to past Hamas deal-breakers [See below].
The Palestinian daily Al-Quds has already reported that Hamas is manipulating the conditions agreed upon at the Mecca Conference. [13]
In addition, Hamas refuses to give up its Security Force, which was first led by wanted terror chief Jamal Abu Samhanda. [14] Hamas also demands dozens of key supports be appointed to numerous civil service positions, while salaries of previous government employees remain unpaid. [15]
Damascus-based Hamas leader, Khaled Mashaal, said in interviews that the conversations in Mecca did not change his movement’s policy. [16]
Hamas’s West Bank and Gaza Strip representative claim that the topic of Israel’s recognition never emerged in the talks. Gaza spokesman Ismael Radwad said that “We [Hamas] didn’t, we don’t and we won’t recognize the arrogation by Zionist Jews of our homeland.” [17]
Once again Hamas will take the leading role in the new administration to be formed within weeks. Nearly a dozen Hamas ministers will control key political posts and Fatah, however, will only be represented by an estimated seven ministers. [18]
Israel and the United States have confirmed that they are ready to return to the negotiating table, [19] but there will not be a real chance for lasting peace unless the new P.A. unity government adheres to the Quartet’s three conditions.
A recent public opinion poll commissioned by The Israel Project demonstrates that although there is public support for a two-state solution, rather than create a Palestinian state now 60 percent of Americans believe “There should not be a Palestinian state until Palestinian leaders end terror and recognize Israel’s right to exist.” Only 25 percent agreed “it is important to create a Palestinian state now .”
The fact, however, is that Israel wants peace – and has been pushing for a Palestinian state that would exist.
The Quartet emphasizes that they will watch closely and only “…support a Palestinian government committed to nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap.” [20] This is partly because the Mecca Agreement clearly avoids addressing the Quartet’s requirements.
Also, Gaza-based Hamas militants recently underwent military training in Iran and receive financial backing from Tehran. [21]
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), another strongly-supported Palestinian militant group, expressed its willingness to cooperate with the new P.A. unity government. PIJ spokesman said that “The Islamic Jihad will support the new government so that it can succeed in its task.” [22]
The movement’s leader, Ramadan Abdullah Mohammad Shallah, is listed on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (F.B.I) website as one of the “Most Wanted Terrorists.” [23] A $5 million dollar reward has been offered for his capture under the Rewards for Justice Program.
PIJ’s violent military wing, Sayeret Al-Quds Brigades, have been responsible for firing most of the Qassam rockets from Gaza into Israel.
Iran also provides PIJ with an estimated $2 million in state-sponsored funding to PIJ annually. [24]
Previous Abbas-Olmert Meetings
June 22, 2006 – Petra, Jordan
Promises are made to set up a more substantive meetings in the future, however because Abbas is not the acting Prime Minister and only the president of the Palestinian Authority, the meeting was kept informal. [25]
December 23, 2006 – Jerusalem, Israel
Follow-up to Petra. The two leaders discussed advancing the peace process, continued violations of the ceasefire agreements by Qassam rockets fired from Gaza by militants, prisoner release and frozen Palestinian funds. PM Olmert released $100 million, entrusted to Abbas’ P.A. leadership and discussed possiblity of releasing prisoners. [26]
A Hamas History of Broken Promises
In two previous instances Hamas maintained that a unified consensus by the Palestinian leadership would aid the Palestinians’ dire financial condition and strengthen their political isolation. However, either attempt never revealed any results. The last attempt at ensuring a national unity government, in September 2006, nearly brought the Palestinian territories on the brink on civil war.
June 2006 – Palestinian Prisoners Agreement
Sept. 2006 – National Unity Government Talks
As in the case of the two prior negotiated agreements between the Palestinian factions, Hamas will remain at the head of the P.A. and will continue to reject the Quartets conditions. [27]
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