Israel criticises Palestinian unity govt

Israeli leaders criticised the new Palestinian unity government today, saying the Hamas-Fatah coalition did not meet international conditions, including recognising the Jewish state’s right to exist.

The new government, formed after months of stormy negotiations, is due to be approved by Parliament tomorrow.

Ephraim Sneh, Israel’s deputy defence minister, said Israel would boycott the coalition between the hard-line Islamic Hamas and the more moderate Fatah “and explain to the countries of the world that they can’t work with a government like this”.

Sneh said Israel should circumvent the new government and try to strike a peace agreement with President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. “That is the only way to drive Hamas out of power,” Sneh said, speaking to Israel Radio.

Mr Abbas’ counterpart from Hamas, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, said he hoped the new government will “launch a new era” for the Palestinians.

The deal aims to end Palestinian infighting that has claimed more than 140 lives, while satisfying international demands and burnishing the Palestinian image in advance of a crucial Arab summit in Saudi Arabia at the end of the month.

But the new government’s platform does not explicitly meet any of the international community’s demands – that it renounce violence, recognise Israel and commit to previously signed peace agreements.

The “Quartet” of Mideast mediators, made up of the US, EU, UN and Russia, posed the three requirements for restoring aid, but they are also seen as conditions for resuming peace negotiations.

The Palestinian unity deal instead refers vaguely to “respect” for agreements and affirms the Palestinians’ right to resist and “defend themselves against any Israeli aggression,” though it also calls for maintaining and expanding a truce with Israel.

Because of those shortcomings, Israel urged the West to maintain the aid boycott imposed a year ago after Hamas defeated Fatah in an election and formed a government. The boycott crippled the government and caused widespread hardship, forcing Hamas to agree to bring Fatah back as a junior partner.

A dormant Saudi peace plan from 2002 is expected to resurface at the Arab summit in two weeks, putting pressure on Israel to respond. The plan offers Israel recognition if it withdraws from the West Bank and east Jerusalem, also referring to the right of Palestinian refugees from the 1948-49 Mideast war and their millions of descendants to return to their homes.

Israel has said parts of the plan are worthy of consideration, but it rejects a full withdrawal from the territories and return of refugees, saying an influx of millions of Palestinians would end Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.