A key Hamas figure is talking about a lengthy truce with Israel. Of course, there are a few key catches.
Hamas yesterday offered a long-term ceasefire if Israel withdraws from all land occupied in 1967.
The announcement by Khaled Meshaal, one of Hamas’s most senior leaders, was its clearest policy statement since winning the Palestinian general election last month.
Mr Meshaal was speaking before a crucial Hamas meeting in Cairo on how the Islamist movement will form the new Palestinian government. While he promised a possible “long-term ceasefire†he refused to commit the organisation to a full renunciation of violence, which is demanded of Hamas by the international community and Israel.
Its charter warns that Israel faces elimination by Islam and calls for holy war or jihad against non-Muslim claimants of Palestine.
Mr Meshaal said he wanted to send a message to the Israeli government that Hamas would be ready to talk if Israel met conditions that included a withdrawal to the 1967 boundaries. Hamas would then “possibly give a long-term truce with Israel”, he said. Others have suggested a 10- to 15-year truce.
All the Israelis have to do is completely withdraw to their strategically-disadvantageous borders they held before their success in the 1967 Six-Day War. Oh yeah, in return, Hamas offers nothing that they can be trusted to actually manage. Ummm … I’m thinking no.
This was the crystallisation of several, often ambiguous, remarks made by Hamas’s senior members since the election and represented a clear bargaining position.
Hamas will hope the international community puts heavy pressure on Israel to leave the occupied territories.
Well, I wouldn’t hold my breath on that international pressure thing — for lo! these many years, that same pressure has failed to force Israel to leave the occupied territories and failed miserably to get Hamas to recognize Israel or swear off violence.
Israel regards Hamas as a terrorist organisation and has vowed not to deal with any Palestinian government set up by the group after its unexpected election victory.
As well it should, as Meshaal’s further statements demonstrate.
Mr Meshaal sounded a more strident note in other remarks that were made public yesterday, refusing to drop Hamas’s call for armed resistance against Israel.
“We will not stand against the resistance, we will not condemn any operation and will never arrest any mujahed [holy warrior],” he said.
“Anyone who thinks Hamas will change is wrong.”
That certainly sounds like a truce offer that can be trusted.
I’ve a better idea for Israel — withhold funds until Hamas cracks under the financial strain. Then, after Hamas is forced to come to the table with some real acquiescence on recognition and violence, provide them with support until Hamas, like Fatah before them, become rife with corruption while failing to bring peace and prosperity to the Palestinian people. Lather, rinse, repeat until the Palestinians have a leadership ready to move forward. That is, if they ever do.