By ANN Staff Writer
The Middle East peace process suffered a severe blow on May 4, 2011, as Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas formally signed an agreement in Cairo, Egypt, to establish a joint interim Palestinian government. Presidential and legislative elections are to follow in 2012.
Why the sudden change of heart between political rivals who have clashed in a series of blood-drenched power struggles since Yassar Arafat’s death in 2004?
When PA President Abbas makes his bid for unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly this September, the presence of a unified political entity could achieve a triumph for the Palestinians.
“Hamas and Fatah … have an interest to reach September – to reach the United Nations united and share the success of this step,” said Yoni Ben-Menachem, former director of Israel Radio news division and one of Israel’s leading experts on the Middle East. “They also have a mutual interest to show to the voters – to the Palestinian people, that they are supporting unity and not a split, and that they favor the Palestinian interests over internal disputes.”
For Hamas, the public relations war for Palestinian votes in a possible 2012 election may be a secondary motive behind the unity deal. As a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas may have an immediate need to relocate its Damascus headquarters.
“Bashar Assad is making restrictions against the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria and against Hamas,” notes Ben-Menachem. “The ground is burning under their feet and they have to find another location.”
As the Hamas Covenant (Charter) calls for the eventual obliteration and dissolution of the Zionist state, this marriage of convenience, a united Hamas-Fatah political entity, has vowed not to return to peace talks with Israel.
Copyright © 2011 Acts News Network, Inc.