HOLY LAND: GIVE US OUR RIGHTFUL JIZYA

The unity government

HAMAS and Fatah have come a long way since their most recent street battles that all but triggered a Palestinian civil war. And that too just as they face their worst humanitarian disaster in more than half a century.

Now, months of intense negotiations have finally resulted in the formation of the much talked about unity government. Sticking to their word, the two factions have passed the important seats of interior, finance and foreign ministers to candidates not belonging to either.

The situation was turned around by the successful Makkah meeting, when Saudi King Abdullah personally brokered critical talks just as the turmoil was developing a momentum of its own.
Therefore, the coming together of the rescue-plan that was employed then marks a significant plus point in renewed Arab efforts to treat lingering self-created wounds. It also puts a feather in the Saudi cap, signalling a straight-forward success in phase one of its efforts to re-orient its outlook in these changing times. Iran, being the other main contender for major-regional-influence, will also now look for a ‘problem-solver’ impact, creating a rare positive diplomatic rivalry in the region, which should bode well for the long-term.

The diplomatic success should not, of course, prompt pre-mature ease, lest the original Palestinian struggle is sidelined yet again. Both Hamas and Fatah remain deeply sceptical of each other’s motives. The past has shown time and again how little it takes for the two to be at daggers drawn. And far from making things any easier as the other main party in the conflict, Israel has already rubbished the unity government formation. The Olmert administration will not play along till the questions of recognising Israel and previous accords are settled.

The crucial question of financial sanctions, however, remains unsettled. And with Israel not on board, it is likely to remain unsettled for at least the immediate future. Still, the international community should lean on the West, particularly the US, for ending the questions that have brought suffering to the Palestinian people across the board.

It should be noted that in finding and subsequently holding common ground, Palestinian leaders have displayed political maturity and flexibility they were widely thought not possessing. It is now up to the West to show that they take the newfound seriousness very seriously indeed. An ease on the international financial constraint should follow.


Pertinent Links:

1) The unity government