Putin, the Palestinians, and Israel

Putin has actually done something sensible for a change. He's downgrading Russia's relationship with Hamas, saying that Fatah and Abbas are the legitimate leaders of the Palestinians.

I know, it's not much, but it does get Russia on the same side of this issue as the US, EU, and Israel. Now, if we could only get everyone to recognize that Fatah is no different than Hamas in its ultimate goal of destroying Israel, we'd be in a much better position.

Still, Russia thinks that the timing is not ripe for making Hamas accept Quartet demands that Hamas recognize Israel and its right to exist.

"Demanding now that Hamas fully accept the quartet's conditions, such as the recognition of Israel, the denunciation of violence against Israel, and the acceptance of all existing agreements is unrealistic at the present stage," Lavrov said Friday in an interview with the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA which was posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry's Web site Saturday Lavrov added that the ruling Palestinian movement could "move gradually toward accepting these conditions."

He criticized unidentified members of the quartet of "trying to influence this process by making excessive demands, excessive at the present stage." After Hamas won parliamentary elections in January, Moscow invited the militant group's leaders to visit Russia despite Israel's objections. At the same time, Russia joined the United States and the EU in demanding that Hamas recognize Israel, abandon violence and acknowledge existing peace pacts with Israel.

Let that sink in a moment. Excessive demands? Are you kidding me? Israel at a minimum must demand nothing less than Hamas recognize Israel's right to exist and a 2-state solution or else all the diplomatic maneuverings is just for show (and yes, I know that most of it is just that). Diplomats love to adjust the situation to suit their own needs, which bears little resemblance to reality.

Demanding such things from Hamas is unrealistic at any stage. At no time going forward will it ever present itself to be realistic. Hamas has no interest in peace with Israel. It seeks its destruction.

No negotiation can go forward unless all sides recognize that Israel's right to exist is inalienable and unalterable. If Hamas or Fatah cannot accept this, then the status quo will continue until such time that Hamas or Fatah either tire of the fight, Israel makes enough concessions to its existence that it can no longer hold the line, or a war in the region alters the facts on the ground.

It really is that simple.

Russia doesn't want to force Hamas to make concessions, which has the effect of putting more conditions on Israel. It is well past time to hold the Palestinians to their obligations and their word - including Hamas. Still, Russia is recognizing that Hamas isn't about to change their stripes anytime soon, which is a bow to reality.

UPDATE:
Also note that the violence between Fatah and Hamas has not abated - 17 people have been killed in fighting in Gaza and the West Bank in just the past month since Hamas took Gaza over.

Jordan wants nothing to do with the Palestinians - and it would not send its military into the West Bank to stabilize the situation. I can't blame them. It's much easier to leave the problem to the Israelis and the Palestinians themselves. Besides, the Jordanians remember Black September and the Palestinian attempt to overthrow the Jordanian government in 1970. They surely don't want to go back down that road and interfere in a Palestinian civil war.

UPDATE:
It's not a secret if it's on the front pages of the Jerusalem Post. The Post reports that Al-Hayat reports Olmert and Abbas are engaged in secret talks that have progressed to the point where final status issues are being worked out.

The source reportedly said that the talks were focusing on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the Palestinian refugee issue, West Bank settlements and the future of Jerusalem.

"There were talks on these issues but as yet there has been no breakthrough on any of them," the source was quoted as saying.

I get the feeling that this may have been leaked so that Abbas could claim that he's getting results, further strengthening his claim to lead the Palestinians. This is all part of the jockeying for position with Hamas.