Kuwait Times

Published Date: February 25, 2009

GAZA CITY: The Islamic militants of Hamas and the Western-backed moderates of Fatah have never had more compelling reasons to repair the rift between them that is fast destroying their dreams for a Palestinian state.

As they begin a new round of unity talks today after several failed attempts, Hamas needs Fatah's international legitimacy to get foreign aid to rebuild Gaza, which was devastated in Israel's recent offensive. Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas badly needs an alliance with Hamas to bolster his political standing, eroded after his term as Palestinian president expired in January and a hard-line victory in Israel's election this month undermined the pragmatists' central tenet: that peaceful negotiations with Israel
will win Palestinians a state.

So why is a unity agreement such a long shot? Distrust between Hamas and Fatah runs deep after three years of a full-blown power struggle, including a civil war that ended with Hamas' violent takeover of Gaza in June 2007, leaving Abbas' Fatah in charge of just the West Bank. Sami Suboh, a 32-year-old Gaza doctor whose house was destroyed in the Gaza offensive, said he hoped for a unity deal soon.

With the unity government everything would go back to normal. I hope that they can reach an agreement," he said, waiting in a line for Red Cross aid supplies. But he added, "It is unlikely." The two sides traded nasty accusations this week, despite pledges to be civil ahead of the reconciliation talks to be held in Cairo, Egypt today.

Hamas claimed that Abbas' government ran a Gaza spy ring that fed Israel information about Hamas targets during the fighting. Fatah accused Hamas of killing and wounding dozens of Fatah activists under the cover of the war. "All Hamas has been doing is poison the atmosphere," complained Abbas aide Yasser Abed Rabbo. Ehab Ghussein, a Hamas official, countered that Fatah's statements prove it's not interested in making amends.

The talks beginning today in Cairo will include meetings between Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman and senior Hamas and Fatah officials. The Egyptians envision five negotiating committees dealing with goodwill gestures, forming an interim government, holding presidential and legislative elections, restructuring the security services and finding a role for Hamas in the Fatah-run Palestine Liberation Organization. On March 2, just five days after the start of unity talks, representatives of about 80
donor countries, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, are to meet in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik to pledge money for Gaza's reconstruction.

According to Palestinian estimates, Israel's offensive caused some $2 billion in physical damage and economic losses. Some 4,000 homes were destroyed and 17,000 damaged. Conference participants will closely watch the unity talks, particularly progress on forming a new Palestinian government. Such a government could be made up of figures not affiliated with either movement, or consist of a Hamas-Fatah coalition that would run the West Bank and Gaza until general elections are held.

The international community won't give huge reconstruction sums directly to Gaza's Hamas rulers, but might entrust the aid to an interim coalition, provided Abbas is involved. "For the donors, the issue is not so much unity, but using unity as a vehicle to strengthen Abu Mazen (Abbas) and give him a new foothold in Gaza," said analyst Mouin Rabbani.

To be accepted by the international community, an interim government would have to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist. Hamas has rejected such conditions in the past. However, in exchange for softening its stance, Hamas could strengthen its hold over Gaza by getting a say over how the aid is spent and ensuring that a 20-month month blockade of the territory is lifted. Abbas may need the Islamists even more than they need him.

His term as president expired in January and polls suggest most Palestinians side with Hamas' argument that he's not entitled to an extension. With Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu to serve as Israel's next prime minister, Abbas' central promise of statehood through negotiations has fallen flat, as Netanyahu considers such talks a waste of time.

This may explain why Abbas is now eager to hold unity talks without preconditions, saying recently he is entering the negotiations with "an open heart." After the Hamas takeover of Gaza, Abbas long insisted that the militants first retract their "coup" before he'd talk to them. Hamas and Fatah might reach a unity agreement relatively quickly, as they did in February 2007 in the Saudi city of Mecca, only to see it fall apart afterward in bickering over implementation.

In contrast to the Mecca negotiations, rival governments are now in place in the West Bank and Gaza, meaning there are growing numbers of politicians on both sides with an interest in maintaining the status quo. Also, some Hamas and Fatah activists oppose a unity deal on ideological grounds. And on some issues, the gaps are so wide that compromise seems impossible. For example, Hamas wants a major say in the PLO, of which it is currently not a member.

Abbas adamantly rejects the demand because it would amount to redefining the Palestinian national movement. The Fatah-led PLO signed an agreement of mutual recognition with Israel in 1993, while Hamas remains committed to the destruction of the Jewish state. Other issues seem just as daunting, particularly restructuring the security forces. Currently, Hamas controls some 20,000 troops in Gaza, while Abbas' thousands of armed men in the West Bank are undergoing Western training. Under a unity deal, the two
forces would have to be merged and depoliticized.

Gaza-based political scientist Naji Shurrab said outsiders, including Hamas backers Syria and Iran, could decide to sabotage unity efforts. And it's not clear whether the new US administration will be more supportive of a unity government than its predecessor. "The way is still long, and there are many obstacles," Shurrab said.-AP