HAMAS MIGHT AGREE ON ACCORDS

Hamas Hints at Oslo Recognition - On its Own Terms
By Hillel Fendel and Nissan Ratzlav-Katz(INN)

Confusing diplomatic developments on the Fatah-Hamas front: Abu Mazen has about-faced by saying Israel need not be recognized, and Hamas is giving signs of recognizing the Oslo Acords.In order to win recognition by the West, Hamas is expected to recognize both Israel and previous agreements Fatah has signed with Israel, as well as renounce terrorism. Even Fatah leader Abu Mazen has said that he would not join a unity government with Hamas unless these conditions are fulfilled.It was reported today, in the name of Palestinian Authority sources, that Hamas had finally come around to fulfilling one of the three conditions demanded by the U.S.namely, that it would honor agreements signed by the PA.

However, what was under-reported was the Hamas stipulation that it would recognize these agreements only in such a way that would guarantee the ultimate rights and interests of the
Palestinians.

Hamas also continues to insist on its right to use legitimate means i.e., terrorism to free their land and end the occupation. No mention was made, in the newly-announced Hamas stance, of a Hamas recognition of Israel's right to exist.Meanwhile, Fatah Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) had been shown to be somewhat two-faced in his statements to the West. Though he has insisted repeatedly in recent weeks that Hamas must recognize Israel, he sang a different tune in a recent interview with the Arabic-language Al-Arabiya newspaper. In the interview, Abu Mazen said clearly that Hamas, Fatah and the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) need not formally recognize Israel.Abu Mazen thus directly contradicted his promises and statements to US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice during her visit last week to the region.

Abu Mazen has also stated that he would not sign any coalition with Hamas until such time as IDF soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit is released from captivity. Shalit was taken captive to PA-controlled Gaza on June 25. Fatah sources in Gaza continue to release messages that, while they favor Shalit’s release, the move is being vetoed by Hamas politburo leader Khaled Meshal, who is based in Damascus. Also today, King Abdullah of Jordan warned the rival Palestinian Authority factions, Hamas and Fatah which have clashed murderously with each other over the past several weeks that if they do not bridge over their differences, they may lose their chance of Palestinian statehood forever.Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin-Jassem Al-Thani also met with refusal on the part of the Hamas leadership in Gaza to compromise. He asked Hamas on Tuesday to consider a new PA unity initiative that would include recognition of Israel's right to exist. Hamas also rejected a similar proposal put forward previously by Egyptian officials. In reaction to the Hamas refusal to compromise, Abu Mazen has once again threatened to call early elections in the PA.