it also calls for continued attacks against Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank.
The agreement between the ruling Islamic militant group Hamas, sworn to the destruction of Israel, and the rival Fatah faction calls for a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. That implies recognition of Israel within the pre-1967 borders, commentators said.
But Israeli Government Spokesman Ra’anan Gissin was not impressed. He told reporters that once Hamas gets the state it wants in the West Bank and Gaza, it will wait for the opportunity to continue its "holy war" against Israel.
"Hamas is not offering any peace with Israel, it’s offering a stay of execution. In other words, ‘we’ll give you 10 or 15 years of peace and quiet and then we’ll destroy you when we’re strong.’ This is not a deal for us," Gissin said.
SPOKESMAN DISAGREES
Hamas Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri disagreed, saying, "It’s a historic moment and an important moment in our history," He added that "in the shadow of the escalation and the aggression against our people, our people emphasized unity."
Hamas and Fatah have fighting a bloody power struggle since Hamas won January’s legislative elections. Hamas controls the parliament and Cabinet. Abbas was elected separately last year. The document was formulated by senior Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, news reports said
Hamas, has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings, was likely to be further pressured by the United States and Europe to make more concessions, including renouncing violence.
AID STOPPED
The group has refused to accept those demands, prompting the West to cut off much-needed aid to the Palestinian government. Tuesday’s reported deal was further overshadowed by news that an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas militants two days ago remained in custody after several hard line groups made new demands, including the release of Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails.
Several pro-Israel Christian groups have been praying for the Jewish State, expressing concerns it will make to many concessions regarding its borders amid fears of all-out war in the region. (With reports from Israel and the Palestinian territories).
