RAMALLAH, April 30 (JMCC) - While initial signs are that Washington is opposed to the recent agreement between Fateh and Hamas, analyst Khaled Elgindy
argues that the White House should embrace the deal.
Both the United States and the broader international community have consistently decried the untenable situation in Gaza and other adverse effects of the ongoing Palestinian schism, but have failed to pursue any policies that could challenge the status quo. A Palestinian unity deal provides an opportunity to do just that. While the new arrangement undoubtedly entails risks for the U.S., other western powers, and Israel, they are not insurmountable. Rather than clinging to the failed and outdated policy formulas of the past, the Obama administration should seek to demonstrate that it both understands and is capable of adapting to the dramatic changes in the region. Moreover, the risks of ignoring Hamas or isolating Gaza -- as though they were both somehow separate from the peace process -- may prove even more costly.