Last week, while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, PA (Palestinian Authority) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) stated that a coalition government agreement was about to be signed with the ruling Hamas Party, adding that such a move would ensure the release of Gilad Shalit.
Abu Mazen was attending the UN event in the hope of gaining the support of the international community to lift the economic boycott of the PA which began with the Hamas election victory in January.
Abu Mazen told world leaders that the newly-forming PA government would comply with the demands of the Quartet Forum, the recognition of Israel; the cessation of terror; and PA compliance with previously signed agreements.
On the other side of the Atlantic, PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah stated this was not the case, insisting that any government he leads would never recognize Israel, and that he would honor only those agreements which “serve Palestinian interests.”
Despite Abu Mazen’s repeated efforts to signal that the new government would meet the western community’s demands, which he hopes would lead to the lifting of the economic boycott on the PA, Haniyah remains firm in his position, stating a Hamas-led administration would not acquiesce to the demands of the Quartet. The Quartet is comprised of the US, UN, EU and Russia.
Much attention is being focused on the negotiations towards the PA coalition government, which appears directly tied to the release of Gilad Shalit, who fell captive during a terror attack on June 25th. Official government sources have repeatedly called reports in the Arab media “disinformation,” insisting that while efforts to negotiate Shalit’s release are ongoing, there is no “imminent deal” as is being reported by Arab sources, led by Egypt. Egypt does continue to play a senior mediation role towards obtaining Shalit’s release.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak regularly releases statements signaling Shalit will be released in the immediate future, using his mediation role to maintain a prominent role in the media spotlight.
Israel is calling on the Quartet to refrain from lifting the economic boycott on the PA until such time as Hamas changes its position and formally announces its recognition of Israel. The European Union (EU) has already signaled a willingness to resume forwarding donor nation funds to the PA, even ahead of Hamas taking the step, basing the move on statements released by Abu Mazen.
In the meantime, it appears statements of a coalition that will recognize Israel are somewhat premature as talks between Fatah and Hamas appear to have deadlocked.
Abu Mazen was attending the UN event in the hope of gaining the support of the international community to lift the economic boycott of the PA which began with the Hamas election victory in January.
Abu Mazen told world leaders that the newly-forming PA government would comply with the demands of the Quartet Forum, the recognition of Israel; the cessation of terror; and PA compliance with previously signed agreements.
On the other side of the Atlantic, PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah stated this was not the case, insisting that any government he leads would never recognize Israel, and that he would honor only those agreements which “serve Palestinian interests.”
Despite Abu Mazen’s repeated efforts to signal that the new government would meet the western community’s demands, which he hopes would lead to the lifting of the economic boycott on the PA, Haniyah remains firm in his position, stating a Hamas-led administration would not acquiesce to the demands of the Quartet. The Quartet is comprised of the US, UN, EU and Russia.
Much attention is being focused on the negotiations towards the PA coalition government, which appears directly tied to the release of Gilad Shalit, who fell captive during a terror attack on June 25th. Official government sources have repeatedly called reports in the Arab media “disinformation,” insisting that while efforts to negotiate Shalit’s release are ongoing, there is no “imminent deal” as is being reported by Arab sources, led by Egypt. Egypt does continue to play a senior mediation role towards obtaining Shalit’s release.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak regularly releases statements signaling Shalit will be released in the immediate future, using his mediation role to maintain a prominent role in the media spotlight.
Israel is calling on the Quartet to refrain from lifting the economic boycott on the PA until such time as Hamas changes its position and formally announces its recognition of Israel. The European Union (EU) has already signaled a willingness to resume forwarding donor nation funds to the PA, even ahead of Hamas taking the step, basing the move on statements released by Abu Mazen.
In the meantime, it appears statements of a coalition that will recognize Israel are somewhat premature as talks between Fatah and Hamas appear to have deadlocked.