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Washington's Response to the West Bank Murders

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) David Pollock - It is a misconception that the murder of three Israeli teenagers is somehow unrelated to the new Fatah-Hamas "unity" government established in early June. Part of the agreement was that Hamas would be allowed to operate in the West Bank - the kidnapping is an indirect consequence of that provision. The newfound license for Hamas enshrined in the deal is almost certainly what made this latest plot so tragically "successful." Of course, the formal agreement did not explicitly condone kidnapping or murder, but Hamas officially interpreted it as an opening for militant activities of all kinds. The group's West Bank sympathizers were newly encouraged to provide local cover, and mid-level PA security officials suddenly became uncertain about where to draw the line in preempting or thwarting Hamas operations. Similarly, Abbas has proclaimed that his new government would remain bound by the commitment to nonviolence against Israel. Yet rockets keep raining on Israel from Gaza, and the PA - which is now officially responsible for Gaza under the terms of the unity deal - has not done or even said anything to stop them. Washington would be on very firm ground in insisting that, as a condition for continued U.S. aid and support, the PA must either act unambiguously to end Hamas violence or dissolve its partnership with that U.S.-designated terrorist organization. The writer is a Fellow at The Washington Institute.
2014-07-04 00:00:00
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