| ID | 134578 |
| Title Proper | Indispensible but elusive |
| Other Title Information | Palestinian national reunification |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Ibish, Hussein |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | With the latest round of Israel-Hamas hostilities giving way to a tense truce and cease-fire negotiations in Cairo, the Palestinian national-unity agreement has suddenly, and unexpectedly, become central to the thinking of all major players. What had looked strongly like a pro forma and essentially failed political initiative may be salvaged and transformed by the Gaza war into a centerpiece of the post conflict scenario. It will not, in reality and in the short term, involve full Palestinian political reunification. That would require a merging of the security and armed forces of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas and, in effect, the disarming of Hamas's paramilitary wing, the Qassam Brigades. There is no chance Hamas would agree to this unless the organization were truly broken, and nothing in the foreseeable future appears likely to achieve that result. However, a degree of Palestinian political transformation now appears possible. |
| `In' analytical Note | Middle East Policy Vol.21, No.3; Fal.2014: p.31-46 |
| Journal Source | Middle East Policy Vol: 21 No 3 |
| Standard Number | Israel |