EU backs peace plan worded by Spain, France, Italy

[oberliner]

The plan has five components: an immediate ceasefire; formation of a Palestinian unity government; an exchange of prisoners —; talks between Olmert and Abbas, and an international mission in Gaza to monitor a ceasefire

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3340355,00.html

Thoughts?

[azurnoir]

1. This will only work if Abbas truly does speak

for the Palestinians, if not then it is an empty show that will only serve to justify more bloodshed.

[breakaleg]

2. True, but what if he doesn't speak for the Palestinians and Hamas does?

Israel won't negotiate with Hamas. So however strong or weak Abbas is, and whatever his sphere of influence, Israel has to accept his word for what it is and give it some time for peace to follow. He's the guy they want to work with and they can't fault him for not speaking for all Palestinians if the person who does speak for them is someone they won't negotiate with.

[oberliner]

3. Hamas is an organization committed to the destruction of the State of Israel

The organization seeks to create an Islamic state on all of historic Palestine, including what is currently Israel.

If Hamas speaks for the Palestinians and indeed what the Palestinians want is for all of Israel to be replaced by an Islamic Palestinian state then I think we are in for some problems.

If, however, Hamas did so well in the polls because of the corruption within Fatah and the frustrations caused by a lack of progress in the peace process, then Israel would do well to continue to try to negotiate with Abbas who is still the President of the Palestinian Authority and chairman of the PLO Executive Committee (previous agreements having been negotiated between the PLO and Israel with the PLO being the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people)

[pelsar]

4. the polls/election is now long gone....

as in many things in the conflict, things change fast: the situation is now a face off between hamas and fatah with different groups taking sides (al aska, the clans etc).

whereas israel obviously prefers Abbas who, it appears accepts israel, its debatable if israel can or even should do anything. They are now involved in a low level civil war. Many of the various groups are trying to stay out of it, (israeli TV interviews)....most are very much in dispare with whats going on.

there is no real answer until this plays it self out and one of the two main groups is the "winner" a political stalemate means a "sea saw" with no one single policy.....

[The Magistrate]

5. Cold But True, Mr. Pelsar

Until real political authority is established, defined as one disciplined body with a monopoly on the gun, there is not much point in talking.