BICOM

Israeli commentators and politicians are mulling the consequences of Wednesday’s announcement that the Fatah faction led by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas will form a unity government, which prompted the subsequent suspension of Israel-PA peace talks.

Shimon Shiffer’s lead commentary in Yediot Ahronot reflects on the failure to advance peace talks and says although “some might say” that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s last few years in power “will go down in history as lost years,” at the same time “one must not downplay” Abbas’ “responsibility for the latest blow up.” However, he predicts that peace talks may well reconvene with the Palestinian unity government asked to accept the Quartet’s three conditions to recognise Israel, renounce violence and adhere to previous Israel-Palestinian agreements.

In Sof Hashavua, Ben Caspit comes to a similar conclusion, saying that although the negotiations are over, they “are not done with.” He says that both Israel and the United States are waiting “to see what the next Palestinian government looks like.” Caspit also suggests that “a union between Fatah and Hamas is not close,” pointing out that the unity deal is likely to break down “for one reason or another.”

Meanwhile, in Israel Hayom, Shlomo Cesana is one of several to report that Israeli officials are anxious for a strong reaction from Washington over the Palestinian unity deal. Quoting unnamed Israeli sources, he says that Israel fears that the United States will demand recognition of Israel from the new Palestinian government but not Hamas itself, constituting “recognition of Hamas through the back door.”

Israeli politicians have been quick to capitalise on the fallout from this week’s events. Likud Minister Gilad Erdan criticised Labour MKs for last week meeting with Abbas in Ramallah, while Likud’s Coalition Chairman Yariv Levin and Jewish Home MK Yoni Chetboun called for left-wing parties to change their stance on peace talks. Labour MK Hilik Bar, who led last week’s delegation responded that critics were “right-wing extremists” who do “everything to sabotage talks.”