Abbas with Haniyeh. For unity
Photo: AFP
Officials: Truce will not lessen pressure on Israel
Israeli officials fear Europe opting to give joint Hamas-Fatah government chance, will soon resume pressure on Israel to present plan for peace talks. US support expected to wane by PA statehood declaration in September
Though Israeli officials had hoped the truce agreement between Hamas and Fatah would lessen international pressure for peace talks, many now fear world leaders – especially in Europe – will soon put the ball back in Israel's court.
"It seems that it has not been easy convincing the Europeans to adopt the Israeli tack regarding Hamas as a partner in the Palestinian government," one state official told Ynet Saturday evening.
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"The fear is that within a short while the ball will return to our court and Israel will be required to present a plan and clear goals in the field of talks."
The US has so far toed the line with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's views on Hamas, but officials say this will not last until September – when the Palestinians plan to make a UN-backed statehood declaration.
"The Palestinians will claim that now that there is unity within the authority the declaration of statehood is more appropriate than ever before, because Abbas will need help ahead of the February elections in the (Palestinian) Authority – from the international community as well as from Israel," one state official said.
"Whoever thought there will now be a few months of calm will be disproven; because the European inclination is to give the truce and unity government a chance – and this will certainly not make life easy for Israel."
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