Netanyahu Rejects Conflict Resolution
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Netanyahu, his predecessors, and other Israeli hardliners categorically reject conflict resolution, ending occupation harshness, affording Palestinians the same rights as Jews, along with PA/Hamas unity.
He’s very clear on the latter, saying “(r)econcilation between Fatah and Hamas makes peace (he categorically rejects) much harder to achieve.”
He opposes “any reconciliation in which…Hamas does not disarm…end its war to destroy Israel,” and recognize it as a Jewish state.
“Reconciling with mass-murderers is part of the problem, not part of the solution,” he roared, calling Palestinian unity “a terror government.”
Hamas is falsely called a terrorist group. It doesn’t murder anyone. The designation aptly describes Israel, waging state terrorism against Palestinians for decades, at war with Syria without declaring it, supporting ISIS and other terrorist groups, providing them with weapons, munitions, and other material support, along with medical treatment for their wounded fighters.
Hamas won’t disarm and leave itself defenseless. Nor will it recognize an Israeli Jewish state on stolen Palestinian land.
Its deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri said unity was agreed on so Palestinians can “work together against the Zionist enterprise, which seeks to wipe out and trample the rights of our people.”
The Ramallah-based PA serves as Israel’s enforcer, an outrageous affront to Palestinians Hamas rejects, fundamentally against oppressive occupation, wanting it ended, dedicated to achieving this objective.
Unity won’t change things – unlikely to stick, Israel certain to sabotage it, simple to accomplish with Abbas as a longtime collaborator with its interests, against his own people, why he’s widely despised.
On Tuesday, a statement by Netanyahu’s office repeated what he said earlier, adding new demands.
It rejected unity governance unless its Hamas disarms, recognizes Israel as a Jewish state, lets Abbas crack down on Hamas West Bank “militants,” returns two Israeli civilians allegedly held in Gaza, and severs ties with Iran.
Hamas considers all of the above unacceptable. It’s unclear if any Israelis are held captive in the Strip. It’s crystal clear that Israel holds thousands of Palestinian political prisoners in its gulag – for the crime of being Arab in a Jewish state.
In response to Netanyahu’s statement, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said “this is an unacceptable Israeli interference in Palestinian internal affairs.”
A previous article called Palestinian unity mission impossible. Hamas won’t abandon its right to resist repressive Israeli occupation.
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