Israel - State of Appeasment...

Is Israel breaking its own taboo on talks with Hamas?

By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: Hamas, Israel, Palestinians

Participants at a recent inner cabinet meeting were listening to details of the Egyptian mediation initiative between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip recently, when a senior minister reportedly reminded those present that Israel does not negotiate, directly or indirectly, with Hamas. Shin Bet security service head Yuval Diskin interrupted, saying there was no other way to describe the talks.

A letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the details of which were revealed Friday, called for the indirect and secret talks with Hamas to be recognized. As for Israel's greatest concerns - that Hamas will use a lull in hostilities to rearm and that Egypt's promises to fight weapons smuggling bear no weight - the writers of the letter offered no solution.

Among the signatories' names, that of MK Yossi Beilin (Meretz) is to be expected. More surprising are the names of the former Shin Bet chief Ephraim Halevi, who has actually been calling for talks with Hamas in recent months, along with former chief of staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak and Brigadier General (res.) Shmuel Zakai, a former Gaza Division commander. This is an attempt to provide a military stamp of approval to a step Israel has officially sworn it would not take. What was taboo two years ago is no longer.
Advertisement

It is Hamas that has not changed its position over the past two years, that has not accepted the Quartet's conditions, and has remained adamant not to recognize Israel and previous agreements, and not to renounce terror. The economic blockade has certainly strengthened Hamas' desire for a cease-fire. But make no mistake, a senior military figure said: "Hamas is not coming to negotiations because it is in decline. Its regime will not fall if the blockade continues."

Negotiations are expected to rev up this week following talks between Egypt and Hamas, and a meeting Tuesday between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Barak in Sharm al-Sheikh. But without an agreement that includes significant progress toward the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, Israel is close to deciding on a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip. The rising number of casualties in the western Negev cannot be ignored. Additional losses could spur the government to an operation, despite doubts voiced by generals and ministers as to its effectiveness.