by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright May 5, 2008
All Rights Reserved.

huttling between Jerusalem and Ramallah, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pressured Israel to stop building settlements in the West Bank, trying to nail down an elusive Mideast peace before President George W. Bush leaves office Jan. 20, 2009. Peacemaking hasn't been attempted since the waning days of Clinton administration, when then Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat broke off talks with Israel and launched a suicide bombing campaign. During that time, the late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, hung to death Dec. 29, 2006, paid the families of suicide bombers around $5,000. Condi hopes to revive the moribund peace process with half the Palestinian people, no longer in control of Gaza, seized by Hamas by force June 15, 2007. Hamas refused to give up its armed struggle against Israel, despite former President Jimmy Carter's recent efforts to open some doors.

      Since Hamas won Palestinian elections Jan. 26, 2006, the White House broke off relations, refused contact and severed all diplomatic ties. Shunning Hamas, the State Department placed its hope in Palestinian Authority and West Bank leader Mahmoud Abbas. Carter's attempt to reason with exiled Palestinian leader Khaled Mashaal, now in Syria, produced no breakthroughs with Hamas, still committed to Israel's destruction. Condi now hopes to get a deal with half the Palestinians working only through Abbas and the Palestinian Authority. Rice insisted she “continues to raise with the Israelis the importance of creating an atmosphere that is conducive to negations,” yet she blasted former President Carter for trying to see where Hamas stands and reconcile differences with the Palestinian Authority. As of right now, the White House deals with only half the Palestinians.

      Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas wants Israel to make concessions, despite the fact that Hamas remains actively at war. Mashaal made it clear to Carter that the armed struggle against Israel continues, not some pie-in-the-sky reconciliation. Palestinians frequently complain that the U.S. is not an honest broker because of its close historic ties with Israel. Abbas believes the U.S. has been too lax with Israel building or expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank. What Abbas can't accept is that Israel has been placed on a war footing because of Gaza'srelentless rocket attacks, cross-border raids and suicide bombings. Abbascomplains about Israel's security fence carving up Palestinian territory for a future state but has no control over extremists derailing the peace process. Abbas has no control or support of Palestinians in Gaza.

      Securing any type of peace agreement would lead to civil war since Hamas does not recognize or condone any peace deals with Israel. As Carter attempted to do, Abbas must try to reconcile with Hamas or face a bloody civil war to unify the Palestinians. When Israel withdrew from Gaza July 14, 2006, it left a power vacuum that Abbas couldn't control. It took less than a year before Hamas seized control June 15, 2007. Since then, Hamas and Abbas have drifted further apart, leaving no real hope of reconciliation. Hamas views Abbas as a U.S. and Israeli puppet, not an honest broker in the peace process. Hamas demands a return of Palestinian refugees inside Israel, in effect undoing the Jewish state. “I can assure you Israel has no hidden agenda,” said Israel Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, reminding Palestinians that Israel showed good faith in withdrawing from Gaza.

      Palestinians complain in the West Bank about Israeli checkpoints and roadblocks. Israel insists restraints are needed to prevent more terror attacks, not, as Palestinians say, to thwart the peace process. Travel restrictions in the West Bank were designed to prevent more terror attacks, not to limit Palestinian access. Abbas blames travel restrictions for creating the sordid conditions radicalizing the West Bank's Palestinian population. Livini points out that 44 of the 61 Israeli roadblocks have been dismantled without promises by Hamas to stop suicide bombing. “It was the first time that I raised the issue, and so it will be now a discussion as to how to carry out that concern, or how to address the concern,” said Rice, reminding Palestinians about progress in the peace process. Abbas knows that without some control of Hamas, Israel can't abandon its security arrangements.

      Condi's peace plan involves ignoring Hamas and dealing with only one-half the Palestinian people. Jimmy Carter's April 18 meeting in Damscus, Syria with Mashaal produced no breakthroughs but attempted to get Hamas talking to Abbas. No U.S. policy can succeed without first resolving divisions within the Palestinian people. As long a Abbas can't reconcile with Hamas, no amount of shuttle diplomacy will have much impact on the peace process. While suicide bombings are down from a record high of 58 in 2002, there's already been one this month in Dimona and another a few days ago at the Karem Shalom crossing in the West Bank. Before Bush and Rice jump the gun and fall on their face, they would be well-advised to urge Abbas to resolve his differences with Hamas. Unless Hamas is folded into the process, Palestinians will face civil war and know no peace.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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