The Gaza Memos: Unity Agreement?
By Hanitizer
The leader of Fatah brag about signing the unity paper presented by Egypt and negotiated by the Palestinian leadership of both Fatah and Hamas. Fatah media lays the burden on Hamas for not signing the paper stating the will work together, cooperate, collaborate and postpone the election instead of this upcoming January till June. Egypt is waiting on the Hamas leaders to give them a definitive response to the paper. Hamas sends mixed signals, their leaders in the inside, they say, we will sign. The leaders abroad in Syria and Lebanon say “we are not signing” while their talking media play dumb and act as “all is good, we are taking care of it” the Egyptians in say, “all is not good” we need a yes or no, there is no further negotiation. Fatah now threatens the President Abbas will issue a Presidential decree to hold the presidential and legislative elections on time, a move to pressure Hamas to sign the Egyptian paper. Hamas yells back, “Abbas, you traitor” for his role in the run up to the Goldstone report discussions in the United Nation. Hamas leadership rushes to Qatar to discuss with their allies how they should respond to the Egyptian paper. Fatah used this to accuse Hamas of lack of autonomy in decision making. While politicians picker are leaders are at political deadlock, the scenes in the occupied Palestinian Territories are horrifying. In the West Bank settlers harass farmers during the olive harvest; the Israeli government builds new settlements’ compounds; and their Security Forces are harassing worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque. In Gaza, increased electric power cut off; prices of gas for cooking went up; people are stocking on gas for their cars. In Gaza however, siege on Gaza got more restrict as the Egyptians refuse to open up the borders to pressure Hamas to sign their paper. Thousands including myself are stranded in Gaza waiting on the agreement. On the other hand, the Israelis appear to be gearing up for a new offensive on Gaza, their warplanes and troops are increasingly aggravating the people of Gaza.