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Egypt President Mohamed Morsi Delivers Ceasefire by John M. Curtis Copyright
Nov. 21 2012 Working around-the-clock for days in exhaustion secure a ceasefire between Gaza and Israel, Egypt’s 61-year-old U.S.-educated President Mohamed Morsi proved his critics wrong, becoming the Mideast’s new prince-of-peace. With a his history with the Muslim Brotherhood—the same group that claims al-Qaeda’s No. 1 Ayman al-Zawahri—Mideast experts didn’t the newly minted Egyptian president to broker the latest ceasefire with Hamas and Israel. Morsi played impartial peace broker, sympathizing with Hamas Prime Minister Isamail Haniyeh and, at the same time, avoiding the incendiary rhetoric to put off conservative 63-year-old Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu. Morsi knows the history but didn’t allow the shrill voices on the street to sabotage a positive outcome, announcing a ceasefire today, effective 9 p.m. local or 2 p.m. EST. Morsi and his Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr appeared with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to make the ceasefire announcement. “This is a critical moment for the region,” said Clinton, relieved after an all-night flight from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. “The people of this region deserve a chance to live free of fear and violence and today’s agreement is a step in that direction,” Clinton said. “Now we have to focus on reaching a durable outcome,” referring to a lasting Mideast peace. Moving between Jerusalem, Cairo and Ramallah—the capital of Mahmoud Abbas’ West Bank—Hillary and the White House pretend that Hamas doesn’t exit. While Morsi worked out the painstaking details with Hamas’ exiled leader Khaled Meshaal and Gaza Leader Ismail Haniyeh, Clinton and the U.S. government pretends that they don’t have to deal with Hamas. Israel and the U.S. know that Meshaal and Haniyeh are far more important players in any Palestinian peace deal than 77-year-old Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Since losing Gaza to Hamas June 14, 2007, Abbas has kept a low profile. Considered a peace partner by the U.S. and Europe, Abbas has little influence on the more radical Hamas government in Gaza. He’s made peace overtures to cede back control to his Palestinian Authority. Despite being on the State Department terrorism list, Hamas is the only player that can broker a peace deal with Israel. Still holding out for armed conflict, Hamas hasn’t accepted any Palestinian peace treaties made between the late Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat or his successor, Mahmoud Abbas. Morsi knows that Meshaal and Haniyeh command far for clout with Palestinians than Abbas. If the White House really wants to broker a peace deal, they need to recognize Hamas as a legitimate peace partner. Bypassing Hamas short-circuits the peace process by deferring to the feckless Palestinian Authority that has no control over nearly 50% of the Palestinian population in Gaza. “Ultimately every step must move us toward a comprehensive peace for the people of the region,” said Clinton, ignoring the 880-pound gorilla in the room: Hamas. Clinton must sit down with Netanyahu and figure out a way to stop shunning Hamas. No peace deal is possible without getting the State Department-labeled terror organization to the table. When Arafat was still alive, he used the late Hamas leader Sheik Ahmed Nassin’s to pressure Israel into making concessions. While Hamas still makes the most noise with their rocket fire, the U.S. and Israel can no longer ignore the problem. Appearing with the West Bank’s Abbas to announce the ceasefire, Clinton doesn’t advance the peace process. While she can’t appear with Hamas’ Meshaal or Haniyeh yet, she needs to work with Morsi to get Hamas off the “let’s-destroy-Israel” bandwagon and onto a realistic peace plan. Netanyahu knows that most Israelis want to find a long-term solution to the Palestinian problem. Since Hamas represents an important step to peace, ignoring that doesn’t serve prospects for peace. With Morsi demonstrating his sway with Hamas, it’s time for multilateral talks to include representatives from Hamas. “I agree that it was a good idea to give an opportunity for a ceasefire . . . in order to enable Israeli citizens to return to their day to day lives,” said Netanyah, mentioning nothing about how Palestinians also needs a normal routine. Ignoring Hamas only postpones indefinitely any realistic hopes for peace. Firing rockets and Israel won Hamas more plaudits in the Muslim world. After Israel assassinated Nov. 14 their chief militant Ahned Jabari, Hamas responded with indiscriminate rocket fire, prompting the IDF into an aggressive bombing campaign. Hamas’ Gaza Chief Ismail Haniyeh knew the consequences of launching rocket attacks at Israel. With his offices destroyed and Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins, Haniyeh now faces a formidable rebuilding campaign. Getting an influx of international capital is now practically guaranteed. Whether that was the ultimate motive for war with Israel is anyone’s guess. Judging by the outcome, any PR benefits to Haniyeh’s decision was a nightmare for Gaza. If Haniyeh wants to survive and see a brighter future, he needs to resolve his differences with Abbas and the PLO and join forces politically to work with Egypt and the U.S. on a new peace plan. 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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