-San Diego Jewish World roundup-
Israel’s Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu at his Cabinet meeting on Sunday, June 1, urged the world to refrain from recognizing the new unity Palestinian government, but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swore in the new government’s members anyway. In a blow to Israel, the U.S. State Department on June 2 announced it would continue to recognize, and fund, the new Palestinian government—at least until such time it could be shown that Hamas members were part of it.
In Congress and among American Jewish organizations, there were mixed reactions to the developments, ranging from support for unification on the part of Americans for Peace Now to calls by the Zionist Organization for the immediate cessation of aid and support to the Palestinian Authority.
Here’s how the fast-moving situation unfolded:
In Jerusalem on Sunday, Netanyahu began his Cabinet meeting with this statement, which was quickly transmitted to the news media:
“I call on all responsible elements in the international community not to run to recognize the Palestinian government of which Hamas is a part and which rests on Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization that calls for the destruction of Israel and the international community must not embrace it. This will not strengthen peace; it will strengthen terrorism.”
On Monday, a short distance away in Ramallah, Abbas swore in a 17-member interim government, or Cabinet, that will be led by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. Some members of the new government, from Gaza, were not permitted by the Israelis to cross over Israel to get to the West Bank city of Ramallah.
During the swearing in ceremony, Abbas said the Palestinian Liberation Organization – which is responsible for conducting peace negotiations with Israel – would abide by all previous agreements, and said it, not the interim government, was the “sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.” Meanwhile, in Gaza, Ismael Haniyeh, who had been serving as Hamas’s prime minister, resigned his position, saying Palestinians were now unified after a seven-year split.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had conferred with Abbas by telephone on Sunday, and, with Netanyahu on Monday. Before being briefed on the Kerry-Netanyahu phone call, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told the media on Monday that so long as there are no Hamas members actually in the government, the United States will continue to do business with the Palestinians.
“At this point, it appears that President Abbas has formed an interim technocratic government that does not include ministers affiliated with Hamas,” she said. “Moving forward, we will be judging this government by its actions. Based on what we know now, we intend to work with this government, but we’ll be watching closely to ensure that it upholds the principles that President Abbas reiterated today.”
Asked if the Palestinians would continue to receive foreign aid, Psaki confirmed that it does, adding “but e will continue to evaluate the composition and policies of the new government and calibrate our approach accordingly.”
In Israel, Netanyahu indicated that Israel had no plans to follow America’s wait and see approach.
Netanyahu said Abbas by his actions “said yes to terrorism and no to peace.” He said Israel would not conduct any diplomatic negotiations with “a Palestinian government that is backed by Hamas, a terrorist organization that calls for destruction of Israel.”
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) noted in a statement that “the laws of the United States prohibit assistance to terrorist organizations. The Administration, in consultation with Congress, should initiate an immediate review of this new government. Until such time that it is determined that assistance to this so-called technocratic government is consistent with our own interests, principles, and laws it is incumbent on the Administration to suspend U.S. assistance.”
Cantor also said: “”President Abbas argues that the new government is composed of ministers without political affiliation, but this new government appears dependent upon Hamas and Hamas continues to support terrorism in its quest to destroy the state of Israel. The burden lies with this new unity government to demonstrate in words and actions that it is truly independent of Hamas, that it rejects terrorism, and that it is committed to a peaceful two-state solution, including recognizing Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.”
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-New York), ranking Democrat on the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, stated: ““I am deeply disappointed with the announcement today of a Palestinian government that includes the terrorist organization Hamas. As long as Hamas rejects the Quartet principles and the existence of the State of Israel, United States funding for this unity
government is in jeopardy. I still believe that the United States should continue its policy of promoting negotiations to achieve an independent state for the Palestinian people living side by side with Israel in peace and security.”
Here’s how various Jewish organizations lined up on the issues:
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations: “We urge the United States and other governments to be vigilant in their judgment of and dealings with the newly declared government. We call on President Abbas to return to the negotiations with Israel and not engage in this charade. United States law prohibits funding to a Palestinian government in which Hamas participates. We, therefore, support the calls by members of Congress from both parties to review US aid to the Palestinian Authority and to assure that the law is appropriately implemented.”
American Jewish Committee: “Whatever Abbas may think is gained by signing this pact with Hamas, there must be clear consequences from Western nations. It can’t be business as usual. Beyond the veneer of ‘technocrats’ serving in the new Palestinian cabinet are Hamas leaders who will no doubt exploit this new arrangement to advance their goals, goals which are entirely inimical to the U.S., European Union, and all friends of the peace process.”
Zionist Organization of America: “We are deeply critical of the Obama Administration for ignoring Abbas’s Fatah/PA’s latest, staggering violation of the Oslo agreements — forming a government with a recognized terrorist movement, which, under the terms of Oslo, were to have been banned. Moreover, this terrorist movement, the Nazi-like Hamas, in its own basic documents, spells out its objective to murder every Jew. There is no justification for according recognition to such a government and continuing to work with it, simply because it is supposed to be merely a caretaker prior to holding Palestinian elections. Terrorist movements like Hamas are to be banned and have no place in elections and indeed are proscribed by the terms of the Oslo agreements — but, of course, the PA has never abided by its signed Oslo agreements and, for twenty years, no-one has held them to account. By announcing that it will continue to fund the PA, the Obama Administration is shamefully adding to this disgraceful record.”
Americans for Peace Now: “APN views this new government as a promising and much-needed step toward unifying not only Palestinian political factions but also the two territorial components of the Palestinian polity: The West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Such unity is vital for empowering the Palestinian leadership to credibly conduct negotiations with Israel and to reliably implement a future peace agreement. Consistent with APN’s longstanding position, we call today on the Obama administration, the Israeli government and the international community to determine their relations with this new Palestinian government based on its positions and actions, rather than using Hamas’ participation in its formation as pretext to reject it.”