Hamas, the Palestinian political party and paramilitary group that controls the Gaza Strip, claims that President Mahmoud Abbas "no longer represents the Palestinian people, and is not qualified to express Palestinian hopes and ambitions." The statement comes as Abbas announces his willingness to restart negotiations with Israel should the latter commit to a three month settlement freeze. Abbas also stated his opposition to armed resistance. Hamas calls his mindset "defeatist."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nitenyahu has often indicated he would be willing to discuss a settlement freeze. However, he also said the freeze should only apply to the creation of new settlements, and that construction of houses, schools, and other buildings would continue in preexisting settlements. Hamas sees any such freeze as pointless and an attempt to "judaize Al-Quds."
Paranoid as they sound, Hamas' members and leaders are not far off the mark. Israeli policy has long included the practice of creating facts on the ground - settlements, people, synagogues, and other phenomena - in an effort to claim more and more territory as part of Israel. Most recently, Nitenyahu confirmed Israeli plans to retain large swathes of territory in the West Bank, even if a peace accord is reached.
Nitenyahu's truculence mirrors that of Hamas. However, Hamas is the legitimate leader of Palestine, having won a majority in Parliamentary elections. Fatah's refusal to relinquish power has led to a schism within the Palestinian community. Hamas picked up on this schism in their statement as well, saying it was absurd for "Abbas [and his colleagues] to negotiate with Zionists while simultaneously refusing a debate within Palestine."
If Israel and the USA want a viable solution in Israel/Palestine, they must cease talks with Abbas and begin focusing on Hamas. It may be unpalatable, but the fact of the matter is that Hamas commands more respect and legitimacy than Abbas and his cohorts in Fatah.
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