Hamas and Israel: They must talk

The Guardian, London

Hamas and Israel: They must talk

Wednesday March 8, 2006
The Guardian

Ismail Haniyeh, the Palestinian prime minister, does not mince words in complaining that the US and Europe apply double standards to Palestinians and Israelis and that Palestinian Authority funding is to be cut because his now ruling Hamas movement is designated a terrorist organisation that does not recognise Israel. Reality is a tad more nuanced: US and EU funding to the PA is under threat, but much aid is likely to continue via the World Bank because ordinary people will suffer if it does not and gaps are likely to be filled by Iran and Syria - hardly the best way to promote moderation.

It would be a mistake to fetishise the recognition question. The fact is that Israel has F16s, nuclear weapons, UN membership and international legitimacy. None of that will be taken away whether or not Hamas stops calling for the destruction of the Jewish state or amends its founding charter. The best hope is for a gradual, organic process of pragmatic acceptance that Israel is there to stay. It is unlikely to be enthusiastic but it will surely come, just as it eventually did when the PLO was in charge.

Refraining from violence is more important and Hamas has done that for a year - though it would be wrong to forget that it was responsible for many suicide bombings that deliberately targeted Israeli civilians - or indeed that Israeli actions have killed even more Palestinians: thus yesterday's stark warning by Israel's defence minister that Mr Haniyeh could be targeted if attacks resumed. A formal long-term ceasefire - reciprocated by Israel - could dull bad memories. But if Israel is to negotiate a lasting peace, it needs a partner. The outside world must do all it can to help. Conditional engagement should nudge Hamas in that direction.

The Islamists won January's elections not because a majority of Palestinians suddenly became fundamentalists, but because the PA under Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas was corrupt and ineffective, largely because the Oslo accords failed to deliver viable independence. No one should be surprised that Hamas will not accept those accords - long pronounced dead by Israel. The same is true of the "road map" to peace, also more honoured in the breach than the observance by Israel. The best hope must be that the next Israeli government - led by the Kadima party founded by Ariel Sharon - will eschew unilateral withdrawals and return to it so that Hamas can follow suit. Hamas is a new Middle Eastern reality that makes it much harder to get these two bitter enemies to deal with each other. But in the end they must talk - or carry on dying.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006