In addition, leaders of the HAMAS and al-FATAH, leaders of the Palestanian parties and organizations, many foreign guests and observers attented to the offical ceremony after the meeting. Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Davutoğlu, General Secretary of the Arab League Amr Musa, Secretary General of Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmaleddin Ihsanoğlu, the EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton attended the ceremony as well.
President Mahmud Abbas said that the accord would end “the four dark years” that hurt national Palestinian interests and he added that he would soon visit the Gaza Strip. Abbas also called Netanyahu who warned Abbas about the pact with the HAMAS, to choose “between peace and colonial policy”. The HAMAS leader Khaled Mashal stated that his fraction is ready to pay any price for reconciliation among Palestinians. Mashal also claimed that their ultimate goal is to establish a fully sovereign Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip whose capital is Jerusalem without any settlers and without giving up any single inch of land.
Egyptian government succeded to reconcile the HAMAS and the al-FATAH who have been in a conflict since the victory of the HAMAS in the elections of Gaza Strip. The conflict sometimes converted to gunfight. Interim government which is projected after the agreement is supposed to carry Palestine to elections. Elections are planned to be held within a year. There has not been any election in Palestine since 2006. With the conflict after Hamas’s victory in Gaza, two separated government were established in Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The Parliament’s commission that has not been working since 2007 expired in 2010. President Mahmud Abbas’s commission expired in 2007 but the elections couldn’t be held because of the conflict.
The pact has already smoothed atmosphere down from the beginning. Both People of Gaza and people of West Bank are satisfied with this step by the HAMAS and al-FATAH. Demonstrations of happiness were held in Gaza and West Bank. The HAMAS provided the West Bank State with a TV broadcast from Gaza. A HAMAS spokesman was guest for the first time to the state television.
Israel’s Reaction to Reconciliation
Reconciliation aroused a great concern in Israel. Israeli government started to lobbying works. According to the Israeli authorities this pact which put an end to fraternal fighting between the HAMAS and al-FATAH has the potential to harm stability in the Middle East. President Shimon Perez stated that this is a big fault for Palestinian Authority who aims sovereignty. Perez also said that the HAMAS is going to have an opportunity to oppress the West Bank. Netanyahu implied that this is going to harm stability of the region and he went to Europe for lobbying. His first destination was London. He said “what happened in Cairo today is a tremendous blow for peace and a great victory for terrorism” and added “those who eliminate us, those who practice terror are not partners for peace”. Netanyahu also obliges Palestinian Authority to choose between the HAMAS and peace. He claimed that a reconciliation government with the HAMAS prevents peace negotiations. Foreign Minister Lieberman is concerned about the HAMAS’s control power in the West Bank and prisoners who are going to be released from Palestine jails. Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s words included threat. He regards the reconciliation as an act that was committed in panic. He also blamed Mahmoud Abbas for serving terrorism. If the HAMAS recognize Israel, peace talks can carry on with reconciliation government. And he highlighted that their “army is ready for all conditions.” Besides these pessimist comments, according to liberals and some of Israeli embassies, if the HAMAS can be persuaded to recognize Israel, peace talks with reconciliation government could be more successful.
Since the “unity” idea found voice in, Israel has discussed in detail measures. The first measure is withholding the taxes which are collected on behalf of Palestine (that is 89 billion usd). Israel concerning about transferring taxes to Gaza. Palestinians don’t accept this measure they think this taxes aren’t donation. And Israel can’t take this measure. The second measure can be increasing the number of checkpoints. Number of the checkpoints was declined after Oslo Process.
According to Israeli intellectuals, it is illogical that Israel forces Palestinian Authority to prefer between the HAMAS and peace. Because there are a lot of member of Knesset who don’t accept existence of Arab population in Israel, don’t want to get on well with Palestinian Authority. And Israel doesn’t make concessions to illegal Jewish Settlers in East Jerusalem. Despite these conditions Israel’s urging won’t work
International Reactions
The first clear reaction to reconciliation agreement came from the USA. White House spokesman warned al-FATAH about the negative effects of this agreement on peace negotiations with Israel highlighting the HAMAS as a terror organization. The USA has the opinion that the HAMAS must recognize the existence of Israel in order to ensure permanent peace. And some of the senators who are close to Israel recommended freezing the relief funds to Palestine if the agrement is put in to practise. (there have been 3,5 billion USD)
The EU supports for a chance to the HAMAS for sustaining peace. Although Netanyahu gave his harshest speech in London, Prime Minister David Cameron stated that this agreement is “more exerting effort for peace.” France supports the reconciliation too. However Russia doesn’t exhibited a certain behavior, but Russia slow and sure about Israel will support the agreement.
Region countries are supposed to welcome this agreement. For Jordan reconciliation agreement is a very important step for sovereign Palestine State. The agreement that is signed under Egypt’s arbitration is also seen an accomplishment of Post-Mubarak government of Egypt, because there were negotiations in the leadership of Omer Suleiman between the HAMAS and the al-FATAH. However, Suleiman sided the al-FATAH thus prevented the success in negotiations.
Syria and Iran’s reaction is worthwhile. Israel- Palestine conflict is very important both for Syria and Iran foreign policy. The HAMAS leader Khaled Mashal, leaders of other fractions from Palestine and around 600.000 Palestinian refugees are living in Syria. All of these make Palestine important for Syria. The Syrian revolt was and is crucial for the HAMAS, because Syrian government wanted the HAMAS to take up a position about demonstrations. The HAMAS’ neutral attitude made Esed government anxious. Mashal is said to have plan of leaving Syria but ultimately Mashal said that he wouldn’t leave Syria. Iran has obviously supported the HAMAS since Iran Islamic Revolution. The first embassy of Palestine is in Iran. Iran regards all of negotiations with Israel as betrayal to Islamic world and follows organizations that don’t recognize Israel like the HAMAS, Hezbollah closely. The HAMAS’ commitment to resistance against Israel has continued after the HAMAS’ victory in 2006. After that Iran increased her support to HAMAS. Iran Foreign Minister Ali Ekber Salihi thanked to Egypt for contributions to the agreement and mentioned his pleasure about reconciliation. It is interesting that why did Iran who has rejected all of the negotiations with Israel, welcome this agreement warmly? It is generally thought that Iran doesn’t want to close the way of very important step in sovereign Palestine through harsh respond. But attitudes of both Syria and Iran will be shaped by the decision of the HAMAS about recognizing of Israel.
What does the Agreement mean?
Mashal’s speech aroused suspicions concerning the recognition of Israel. Do the words of Mashal saying “We are ready to pay all price” implicates anything concerning recognition of Israel? More importantly “Will Israel accept PA’s demands (like removing Jewish settlers, refugees turning back) and will the HAMAS recognize Israel?
The HAMAS and the FATAH have not set forth the content of agreement. Both sides are supposed to meet in Cairo to determine details like prisoners, organization of the security forces. The first meeting was held in Cairo after agreement in which the HAMAS and the al-FATAH agreed about interim government but there is no explanation about details.
Furthermore, does the agreement means “to be a reconciliation ideological conflict between the HAMAS and the al-FATAH?” It can be asserted as an iron will of Palestinians for unity more than an ideological unity. Mashal in his interview to Reuter in Cairo concerning this issue states:
“There is no occupant that withdraws without pressure and force. We must carry on our resistance. And we will try to persuade the al-FATAH to adopt our way against Israel,” and added “the Western countries must support this agreement and recognize Palestine state. An international reaction should be set against Israel occupation.”
The al-FATAH spokesman Husam Zomlot gave an interview to TRT Türk and said “this agreement is not for the HAMAS and the al-FATAH. This step is taken for people of Palestine”
By: Yasemen Semiz, Intern of SDE Program of International Relations