“Abbas: Hamas must recognize Israel,” announced the headline on the lead story in today’s Jerusalem Post. The article went on to report that “PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas vowed to fire the Hamas-led government before the end of the month unless... they accepted Israel's right to exist. Abbas made his pledge in a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who expressed Washington's full support for the PA chairman and his Fatah party in their confrontation with Hamas."US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice is quoting publicly as saying, "We have great admiration for you and leadership," after her meeting with Abbas in Ramallah this week. I really wish someone would inquiry what it is specifically about Abbas’ leadership she admires.
Only the day before, however, Abbas said on PA TV that Hamas does not have to recognize Israel – nor does his own Fatah faction: “Hamas is not required to recognize Israel… It is not required of Hamas, or of Fatah, or of the Popular Front to recognize Israel.”
He went on to say that government officials must “recognize their counterparts” in order to “solve people’s problems,” indicating that this does not constitute an inherent recognition of Israel, just a functional recognition that allows the PA to get what it needs:
“I do not demand of Hamas nor any other to recognize Israel. But from the government that works with Israelis in day to day life, yes.”
From where I sit, everyday the resemblance between Abbas and Arafat grows ever greater but who knows – maybe professional jealous is the appeal?
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