Hamas, Fatah wrap up unity deal; Israel won't work with new government

[Purveyor]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - The rival Hamas and Fatah movements formed a long-elusive unity government Thursday, hoping to end bloody infighting and lead the Palestinians out of a year-long international isolation. Israel immediately said it would not deal with the new government.

Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of the Islamic militant Hamas announced the final coalition agreement and platform after months of stop-and-go negotiations. It is to be approved by the Palestinian parliament on Saturday.

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Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said his government will boycott the coalition government and encourage other countries to do the same because its program falls short of the international conditions for acceptance that include recognition of the Jewish state.

"Unfortunately the new Palestinian government seems to have said no to the three benchmarks of the international community," Regev said. "Accordingly, Israel will not deal with this new government and we hope the international community will stand firmly by its own principles and refuse to deal with a government that says no to peace and no to reconciliation."

Western countries have said they will wait for the new government to take office before deciding whether to lift economic sanctions against the Palestinian government. Haniyeh said the Palestinians have received encouraging signals from Europe.

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http://www.570news.com/news/international/article.jsp?content=w031529A

[Solo_in_MD]

1. Not sure I would recognize a government that was publically commited to my destruction either

[ProgressiveMuslim]

2. I think it's more a matter that Hamas is committed to the survival of

Palestine, rather than the destruction of Israel.

I think we can debate whether oppressed groups have the right to use violent forms of resistance.

I wish Hamas would recognize Israel. I can predict right now what the next "roadblocks" wuold be... Hamas has to amend their Charter!

I sure as heck wish our country would hold Israel to account for its commitments. What's up with the constant increase in the numbers of illegal settlements?

Israel is quite successful at focusing US attention on meaningless formulas.

[wellst0nev0ter]

4. Arafat Was A "Superterrorist"

Who wanted the destruction of Israel, yet Israel was able to cooperate and deal with him.

But that was back when the grown-ups were in charge and called the likes of AIPAC and their fanatical allies "scumbags"

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. "Do As I Say" Diplomacy.

Come on, the way they support autocracies like Egypt and Jordan that repress oppositions, conduct torture campaigns and run police states, more than they support democracy in Palestine, is going to bear grave consequences in the future. Sure Egypt and Jordan violently repress opposition parties, conduct torture campaigns and run police states, but Thank God Almighty they're okay with Israel and the Palestinian problem. We've seen how democracy is handled in Iraq and Palestine, if that kind of government achieves another dead end, what do you think will happen next?