Monday 9 February 2009

From MIFTAH-Truce Grows Closer as Internal Split Deepens




By MIFTAH
February 07, 2009

With three days left until Israel's general elections, Palestinians are hoping a truce agreement between Israel and Hamas will come to fruition before then. According to Palestinian, Egyptian and even Israeli sources, this is not such a far-fetched prospect. On February 2, President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Husni Mubarak and Saudi Prince Saud Faisal met in
Cairo to discuss the truce and Palestinian reconciliation. Over the next few days, Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Israeli officials have all traveled to the Egyptian capital to hammer out a deal by which quiet would finally come to the battered Gaza Strip.

On February 5 Hamas spokesman Ayman Bardawil said a draft agreement had been reached with Israel through Egyptian mediation, which reportedly only needs approval from Hamas' leadership in Damascus. According to Bardawil, the agreement includes an 18-month truce agreement between Hamas and Israel, a complete opening of borders between Gaza, Israel and Egypt, and an 80 percent lifting of the economic blockade, which has been in effect since
2007. The parties are hopeful that the agreement can be signed and sealed within the next few days.

Reports also surfaced on February 7 about a possible deal between Israel and Hamas over the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The deal is reportedly being formulated with the help of Turkey. Israeli and Turkish media reports have said a deal could be clinched as soon as February 10.

Turkey's chief prosecutor has also announced it would begin an investigation into whether Israel committed war crimes and genocide during its three-week onslaught on Gaza. Turkey has been especially supportive of the Palestinians throughout the invasion. President Abbas is currently in Istanbul for talks with Turkish officials over the truce and Palestinian reconciliation efforts.

Still, while a long term truce may be within reach, the present situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire. While aid continues to enter the Strip, namely from international organizations such as UNRWA, this relief agency recently announced it would suspend its operations in the Strip because of claims that Hamas officials had seized large quantities of aid. On February 6, UNRWA said Hamas men seized its warehouses and stole 200 tons of good and supplies from 10 truckloads of goods into Gaza. UNRWA official Christopher Gunness called the incident, "absolutely unacceptable," also citing what he said was a raid by Hamas gunmen on February 3 into a warehouse during which they confiscated 3,500 blankets and 400 food parcels.

Hamas denies that its men stole or confiscated UNRWA goods, saying rather that the whole fiasco was a "misunderstanding." In a statement on February 3, Hamas official Ahmad Kurd said the de facto government did not stop any trucks, but that the problem stemmed from "confusion" over who was to pick up the goods. At press time, UNRWA had not yet reversed its decision, saying it would not resume distribution until it has guarantees from Hamas that all of its aid could be accounted for.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, the shaky truce between Hamas and Israel is holding on by a thread, with both sides punctuating the tense quiet. On February 6, Israeli F-16 jets dropped bombs on at least 15 targets in Gaza, resulting in three injuries and a number of demolished homes.

On February 5, Israeli occupation forces shot and killed a Palestinian at the Gaza-Israel border, whom they claimed was carrying a grenade. Earlier in the day, Palestinian groups fired two rockets into Israel with no damages or causalities reported.

On February 3, 25-year old Ayman Abu Jazar was killed in Rafah when an Israeli missile was shot at his car. Five others were wounded in the attack. On that same day, Israel bombed several underground tunnels in the Rafah area following the firing of Grad missile, which was shot by Palestinians into Ashkelon. On February 1, F-16 bombs were dropped on several targets including a police station and along the border strip between Gaza and Rafah. Dozens of air to ground missiles were also shot into Palestinian territory.

Israel has promised a harsh response if the rockets continue to fall but has so far refrained from carrying out an all out attack. If, however, Likud candidate Benjamin Netanyahu wins the upcoming elections, he says the status quo will immediately change. On February 6, Netanyahu told his people that if he is elected prime minister, he would vow to bring down the Hamas government one way or another.

It seems unlikely that the Gaza Strip will be able to withstand any more pounding. According to a UNDP report released on February 4, there is at least 600,000 tons of rubble that need to be cleared before any reconstruction work can begin. According to the report, an estimated 14,000 homes were completely destroyed and 20 percent have sustained light to heavy damage from Israel's three week assault. Furthermore, 68 government buildings and 31 NGO complexes or buildings were completely or partially destroyed in that same period.

The Palestinian Authority has pledged a $600 million package for the reconstruction of Gaza. On February 5, Palestinian Prime and Finance Minister Salam Fayyad announced that the Authority would begin within the next few days to distribute cash assistance in the sum of $50 million to the neediest families in Gaza, as part of the package.

One shipment of aid was turned back by Israel by sea on February 5. A Lebanese ship traveling to Gaza as part of the Free Gaza campaign was intercepted by Israeli authorities before reaching the Gaza shores. According to activists on board, including Syrian Archbishop Hilarion Capucci, Israeli soldiers held the passengers at gunpoint, beat them, and then took them to the Ashdod port where several of them were interrogated. They were then escorted back to Lebanon. The ship was carrying 60 tons of medicines, food and toys for the people of Gaza.

Israel was busy in the West Bank as well this week. On February 5, Al Quds Brigades commander for Qabatiya and Jenin 21-year old Issam Abul Rub was killed by Israeli army special forces. According to his family, Israeli forces stormed their home, corralled them into one room and shot their son in his bed upstairs before his brother's eyes.

On February 3, six Palestinians from the Hebron-area town of Saeer were injured when Israeli soldiers and settlers beat them on their land. The Palestinians were trying to stop the army from uprooting their olive trees and leveling their lands when they were attacked. Hospital sources say the six, including 80-year old Khadra Jaradat, came in with varying injuries and broken bones.

In Jerusalem, Palestinians say Israel is stepping up its policy of demolishing Palestinian homes before the upcoming elections. On February 4, Israeli authorities demolished three homes in the Jerusalem suburb of Essawiyeh and on February 3, two other homes belonging to the Gheith family were torn down in the Ras Khamis area across from the Shufat Refugee Camp. Israel says the homes were built without proper licensing.

Furthermore, on February 1, Israel announced it had finished infrastructure works on the E-1 project between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim in preparation for the beginning of settlement construction. The E-1 project, which has been underway for years but which has been met with resistance even by the United States because of its ramifications on the ground in the West Bank, will effectively sever any Palestinian territory from Jerusalem from the east. According to the Maale Adumim municipality, 3,500 housing units will be built in the E-1 area as a "Zionist response" to any attempt to divide Jerusalem.

In the meantime, President Abbas continues with his obligations as Palestinian president, despite the continued split between the political factions. Abbas addressed the European parliament in Strasburg on February 4, saying he hoped the parliament would support a national unity government when it was established. Abbas had previously expressed hope that Hamas
would accept the formation of a unity government, but the terms on which this government would be established are yet to be agreed on.

Inclusion of Hamas in future settlements seems to be the opinion of the hour. On January 31, Quartet Committee envoy Tony Blair told the London-based Times that he thought Hamas must be part of the game. "It is important that we find a way of bringing Hamas into (the peace) process," he said. However, Blair stressed that this could only happen "if Hamas is prepared to do it on the right terms. These terms, no doubt are those set by most international players, including the Quartet - recognition of Israel and the renunciation of violence.

It remains to be seen whether Hamas will comply with international or even Palestinian terms for negotiations. Following Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal's statements on January 30 about creating an alternative body of Palestinian representation, even some within Hamas were not happy. "I personally do not agree with setting up an alternative body," said Hamas
official Ghazi Hamad on January 30. "That will only deepen the split. We need to go back to the language of unity." Hamad, known for being outspoken, maintained he was only speaking on his own behalf and no that of the movement.

The Palestinian leadership, of course, was up on arms over Meshaal's statements, saying no one could marginalize the PLO. Abbas was particularly upset, saying on February 1 in Egypt that there could be no dialogue with "those who gambled with the lives of the people and their dream of establishing their state."

Article: http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=18799&CategoryId=10


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