The statement was perhaps necessitated as Israel is set to have a right wing government under a hawkish Likud Party led by Benjamin Netanyahu who had campaigned against negotiating with a broad spectrum of Palestinian leadership.
Abbas’ sentiments were coincidentally echoed by US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, who said on Friday Washington would continue to press for a two-state solution with the new Israeli leadership in resolving its disputes with the Palestinians.
President Abbas, who is known as a pro-West moderate, may also be seeking to win back the alienated Palestinian people and factions by talking tough and setting preconditions for the new Israeli leadership. Of late, Abbas has also spoken of reconciliation with his political rivals, including Hamas, with an ‘open heart.’ Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under considerable pressure for forming a unitary government that also includes leftists such as the Kadima Party of Tzipi Livni, cannot just shrug off Abbas stance as a
political stunt.
On the other hand, Hamas, too, has come up with clever diplomatic manoeuvres by writing to US President Barack Obama. The letter, handed over to Senator John Kerry on a landmark visit to Gaza with other lawmakers, apparently solicits the new US administration’s attention to the plight of the Palestinians.
At the same time, the move underscores the need for dealing with Hamas as an important political entity in finding any solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The ball is now in the world community’s court, especially that of the United States. It must prevail upon the new Israeli government to turn a new leaf in its relations with the Palestinians for urgent resolution of this long
festering conflict.
Even a hawkish government led by Netanyahu cannot pretend the Palestinians do not exist. The onus is on Netanyahu and President Obama.
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