Fatah leader and Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas's surprising televised statement Wednesday afternoon that he wants to make peace with the rival Hamas terrorist party tests Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's previously stated stand against a Hamas-Fatah pact.
The Prime Minister stated two years ago, "The State of Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian administration if even part of it is an armed terrorist organization calling for the destruction of the state of Israel."
The State of Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian administration if even part of it is an armed terrorist organization calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.
U.S. President George W. Bush backed the Prime Minister, saying he does not "see how you can be a partner in peace if you advocate destruction of a country."
Abbas backed his desire for a pact with Hamas by planning to visit Syrian-based leader Khaled Mashaal next week, according to a Lebanese newspaper. In addition, the London-based Al Hayat newspaper reported that Hamas and Fatah officials will meet Thursday in the Senegalese capital of Dakar.
Abbas's announcement reflects a rapidly changing tone by the PA, which has dug in on demands that a proposed new Arab state within Israel's current borders include all of the land restored to the Jewish state in 1967, including the Temple Mount and Jerusalem neighborhoods such as Gilo, Ramot, east Talpiot, Har Homa and Pisgat Zev.
Israel, which continues to suffer from terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria despite "good will" efforts that relax security measures, announced last week that it is building several hundred new apartments in Jerusalem. The announcement, coming on the heels of President Bush's highly pro-Israel visit last month, has angered Abbas.
Abbas, who previously has insisted he would not make peace with Hamas until it gives up control of Gaza, made no mention of his demand in his televised speech Wednesday. "The failure of the peace process, the tragic situation in Gaza, the entire Palestinian situation... require thinking courageously of an exit," said Nimer Hamad, an aide to Abbas.
The PA's hardening stance against Israel also is reflected in a move by American-backed PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. He has urged the European Union (EU) to refuse Israel's request to upgrade ties with the EU until Israel "halts all settlement activities and other violations of human rights in Palestine."