November 12, 2017 11 News & Analysis Palestine Iran pushing for - reconciliation

The Arab Weekly staff

London

hile medi- ated a reconcilia- tion deal between Palestinian rivals Hamas and , WIran appeared to be pushing for a thaw of ties between Hamas and the Lebanese movement Hezbol- lah and both were unwelcome de- velopments for Israel. Hamas has moved to strengthen ties with Hezbollah after the two parties, which have been engaged in hostilities against Israel, took opposing sides in the Syrian war. Prior to the popular uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2011, Hamas was an ally of the Damascus regime, Hezbol- lah and regional heavyweight Iran, in what was branded as “the axis of resistance” against Israel. While initially refraining from criticising Assad, Hamas later an- nounced that it supported the as- pirations of the Syrian people in its uprising against the regime. Its po- sition on led to the souring of relations with Iran, which reduced funding of the Palestinian move- ment. Iranian and pro-Hezbollah me- dia outlets accused Hamas of ac- tively supporting Syrian rebels, a charge the Palestinian group de- nied. As the war in Syria appears to be dying down, ties between Hamas and Hezbollah seem to be thawing, likely with encourage- ment from Iran. Radical attraction. Hamas’s Deputy Political Chief Saleh al-Arouri (L) meets with Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed “The alliance between Hamas in Beirut, on October 31. (Social media) and Hezbollah is a direct result of the renewed relations between Iran and Hamas,” wrote Khaled pants included Hezbollah’s deputy have raised alarms in Israel. dor Liberman in August in which Hezbollah and Iran, possibly be- Abu Toameh in the website of the chief Sheikh Naim Qassem. In September, the head of Israeli he accused Arouri of attempting cause the Palestinian leaders have Gatestone Institute. Observers said both sides were intelligence service Shin Bet, Na- “to boost the relationship between made a number of gestures to win Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas’s deputy likely to benefit from rapproche- dav Argaman, warned that Hamas Hamas and Hezbollah” with the Cairo’s favour. political chief, had a rare public ment. and Hezbollah were gearing up for help of Iran to plan attacks against “To ensure Hamas’s survival, meeting with Hezbollah Secretary- “It is no secret that Hamas, de- a new conflict against Israel. Arga- Israel. [Hamas leaders] are even willing General Hassan Nasrallah in Bei- spite having different positions man’s warning echoed a statement Israel demanded Hamas cut rela- to sever ties with their mother rut on October 31. The meeting regarding the Syrian crisis, needs by Israeli Defence Minister Avig- tions with Iran but the Palestinian ship, the , occurred soon after Arouri visited Hezbollah when it comes to fund- movement responded by saying to appease Egypt, its saviour and Iran. ing, training, securing supply lines that the visit by its delegation to Brotherhood nemesis,” wrote Sh- Pro-Hezbollah al-Manar TV said for weapons and providing resi- Tehran is “a rejection of the Zionist lomi Eldar in Al-Monitor. Arouri and Nasrallah discussed dence for Hamas cadres in Leba- entity’s conditions to cut ties with Despite rising tensions between “the Zionist aggression against non,” Adnan Abu Amer, wrote on (Iran).” , which is an ally of Gaza and its ramifications” follow- the website Al-Monitor. The Hamas-Hezbollah thaw is Egypt, and Hezbollah, Egyptian ing an Israeli attack on a tunnel “For its part, Hezbollah needs likely to also ire Egypt and Saudi President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in the that killed eight a Palestinian movement, such as Arabia, whose relations with Iran Cairo was not mulling measures members of the Palestinian group Hamas, to restore its popularity and the Lebanese movement had against the Lebanese movement. Islamic Jihad. among Arab public opinion, which hit an all-time low. “The subject is not about tak- Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh took it lost after being involved in the “The Egyptians are trying to rein ing on or not taking on [Hezbol- part in a Hezbollah-sponsored con- wars in Syria, Iraq and Observers said in Hamas from its past and cur- lah]; the subject is about the sta- ference on the against Sunni Muslims. Hamas… both sides are rent ties with Iran, which supports tus of the fragile stability in the on November 1 in Beirut, which may help dispel Hezbollah’s sec- Hezbollah,” wrote Jack Khoury in region in light of the unrest fac- kicked off with a message from tarian image,” Amer added. likely to Haaretz. ing the region,” Sisi told CNBC. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah The meetings between Hamas benefit from Egypt has not publicly criticised “The region cannot support more Ali Khamenei. Other senior partici- leaders and Hezbollah officials rapprochement. Hamas for strengthening ties with turmoil,” he added. Palestinians should put more focus on their case internationally

f it is to make progress to- Palestinian leadership to wait for raised strong condemnation from est case to bring. Other countries wards realising its people’s the above scenario to materialise. both Israel and the . regard the settlements as illegal legitimate right to self-deter- It must set its own agenda and The United States may decide to as does international law. Israeli Kamel Hawwash mination in their homeland, make rapid progress on it. leave the UNHRC as an expression Prime Minister Binyamin Net- is a British-based Palestinian the Palestinian leadership The Palestinians have no option of anger at what it sees as obses- anyahu recently promised never university professor and writer. needs to take stock and weigh but to escalate their efforts to inter- sive criticism of Israel as it has to dismantle a settlement and to Iits options. nationalise their case and to pursue done with UNESCO. This may dis- expand the illegal enterprise. The Palestinians should be measures that would bring some suade other international bodies While the Palestinians and the under no illusion that the so-called form of accountability on Israel and conventions from accepting ICC would come under enormous deal of the century US President through peaceful means. This they the state of Palestine as a mem- pressure not to act, surely it is an Donald Trump’s advisers are work- can do with a more united leader- ber, knowing that it will use this action the Palestinians must pur- ing on will be made in Tel Aviv, not ship as the reconciliation between primarily to bring accountability sue with vigour. Washington or Ramallah. It will Fatah and Hamas evolves. Yes, the on Israel for violations that come The Palestinians should be be a deal of the century designed road ahead is rocky but promising. under the scope of the organisa- under no illusion that the conse- to strengthen Israel’s hold on the The United States has effectively tion in question. The Palestinian quences of escalating this battle land from the river to the sea. It closed the door on accountability Liberation Organisation’s response would be costly for them. They will not be based on respect or through the UN Security Council, should be to join more internation- will need strong support from Arab adherence to international law and where, if needed, it will always al bodies and conventions and use allies who should insist on Israel will not deliver an independent wield the veto. In the UN General these to pressure Israel back to the agreeing fully to the 2002 Arab Palestinian state based on the 1967 Assembly, where the United States negotiating table or face greater peace initiative as a start. The ini- The PLO should borders with East Jerusalem as its does not enjoy the right to veto accountability. tiative spells out clearly what Israel join more capital, the minimum the Palestin- resolutions, the Palestinians can For example, it should work for needs to do for it to reap the huge ians would accept as a resolution initiate them and win but they Israel’s suspension from football’s benefits normalisation of relations international to the conflict. will remain unenforceable. The world governing body, FIFA, for with the Arab and Muslim world bodies and It will certainly not include a Palestinians are enjoying greater operating football teams in the would bring. conventions and return of Palestinian refugees to success in the UN Human Rights illegal settlements. The Palestinians should insist their homes. This will make a deal Council (UNHRC), where the The Palestinian Liberation that a return to talks should be use these to impossible to accept. The reper- United States does not hold a veto. Organisation should vigorously based on international law and pressure Israel cussions would be disastrous for Significantly, the council is about pursue Israel through the Interna- well-known UN resolutions on the the Palestinians as they will once to publish a database containing tional Criminal Court (ICC), which conflict. The Palestinians have op- back to the again be blamed for the failure. the names of companies complicit it joined in 2014. A focus on the tions. More of the same is not one negotiating table. It would be disastrous for the in Israel’s occupation. This has illegal settlements is the clear- of them.