Hamas agrees to Israeli state

[Rik Meleet]

From The Guardian

Hamas has made a major political climbdown by agreeing to sections of a document that recognise Israel's right to exist and a negotiated two-state solution, according to Palestinian leaders.

In a bitter struggle for power, Hamas is bowing to an ultimatum from the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, to endorse the document drawn up by Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails, or face a national referendum on the issue that could see the Islamist group stripped of power if it loses.

But final agreement on the paper, designed to end international sanctions against the Hamas government that have crippled the Palestinian economy, has been slowed by wrangling over a national unity administration and the question of who speaks for the Palestinians.

Read the full article for details.

Is this the umpteenth "first step to peace" ??

 

[Elrohir]

One can hope, but I won't be holding my breath. Just because they recognize Israel is it's own state doesn't mean they won't try to kill them all, again.

 

[Joker85]

One can hope, but I won't be holding my breath. Just because they recognize Israel is it's own state doesn't mean they won't try to kill them all, again.

Exactly. I'm sure the language has been parsed down so it's not a true declaration of Israel's right to exist as they are now.

Before aid can resume or negotiations begin Hamas needs to renounce terrorism and officially recognize Israel with no "buts". If that were to happen, the Palestinians just might find themselves having thier own nation.

Now is where we get to see if that is what they really want, or if killing people and blaming the world for their problems using the guise of a "state" as an excuse is what they are and have been after.

They hold their future in their hands.

 

[Archbob]

Nah, soon they'll be wanting to drive Israel into the sea again.

 

[Sidhe]

I some times get the impression that people actually believe that Hamas being brutal terrorists is preferable to the offering the olive branch, it's truly sad world we live in, ah just when you'd all got so used to hating them they go do something human, never mind perhaps you can get your war kicks from Iran

 

[Archbob]

Yeah, but peace between Israel and the palestinians have failed so many times, I don't see why it would work this time.

 

[Sidhe]

Oh don't worry I wasn't talking to you directly, and I agree I'm also somewhat cynical, this could well be more stalling for political time, after all Hamas knows it's in a pretty shakey pisition ATM. I guess I just want peace more than war and some posters here just give me the impression that war is in there eyes the only viable solution to this crisis? It's them I'm referring too, rather than any poster so far.

FYI peace has come close but never actually been tried, it's always fragile ceasefires, so how do people judge peace exactly as never working?

 

[Archbob]

Well, if they weren't raising hell over there, what would reporters do for a living?

 

[sysyphus]

It's little more than political posturing on Hamas' part, but at least it goes to show that the pro-peace side of Palestine is a force to be reckoned with.

 

[Sidhe]

Well, if they weren't raising hell over there, what would reporters do for a living?

go work in Iraq? Get proper jobs, you tell me

 

[Archbob]

go work in Iraq? Get proper jobs, you tell me

Yeah, but that isn't as exciting as having missiles flying over your head every day.

 

[Babbler]

Hamas might spilt in two over this. I don't know, the whole place is a mess.

 

[Quasar1011]

Nah, soon they'll be wanting to drive Israel into the sea again.

As in, the day after the so-called West Bank becomes a Palestinian state.