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Did the U.S. Promise Not to Recognize a Hamas-Backed Unity Government?

(Ynet News) Yitzhak Benhorin - Did the U.S. backtrack on an informal agreement reached between Secretary of State John Kerry and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the possibility of a Palestinian unity government backed by Hamas? The head of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Robert Satloff, claims that "Kerry and Netanyahu had a detailed conversation focusing specifically on the possibility of a 'technocratic government'...whose composition is shaped and approved by Hamas," and had reached an agreement that the U.S. would not deal with any Palestinian government backed by Hamas. Satloff told Ynet that "there was an understanding between Netanyahu and Kerry that the U.S. would take a 'wait-and-see' position." Satloff says U.S. relations with the new Palestinian government should be defined according three central points: A commitment to the Quartet's principles (recognition of Israel, renunciation of terror, acceptance of previous agreements), abiding by Congress' legal constraints regarding the funding of terrorists groups, and support of Israel. "The third point," he said, "means not just recognizing Israel's right to do something - supporting Israel means preventing its isolation under such conditions." "Israel's response to a Hamas-backed government would likely be directly proportional to its sense of isolation on the issue....The more support Israel finds in Washington...on its position toward an unacceptable Palestinian government, the less need it will feel to impose harsh economic and other costs on that government to prove its point."
2014-06-06 00:00:00
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