The Hamas Factor: Palestinian Unity, Key to Middle East Peace, Progresses

The recently restarted Middle East peace negotiations, already stuck over Israeli settlement building in occupied territory, face an equally formidable obstacle but one that conversely seems to be rapidly changing: The Hamas Factor.

The group holds sway over Gaza and opposes the peace talks spearheaded by their compatriot Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah group, which holds sway over the West Bank. The deep split between the two Palestinian groups puts the whole Middle East peace process in jeopardy, which is precisely what makes the renewed reconciliation push of such vital importance. The Hamas Factor is so great that without resolving it, no peace deal can be considered valid or likely to stay in effect.

In a brilliant feat of diplomacy unheralded even in international relations circles, the Egyptian head of intelligence Omar Suleiman met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Saudi Arabia's Mecca to attempt to bring the two factions closer together. Democratically elected into power four years ago, Hamas' victory prompted the quick rejection of democracy-touting U.S., Israel and then-leading Fatah because of the group's militant ties.

Egypt's previous attempts at reconciliation of a year ago were rejected by Hamas because no guarantees were provided that it would be recognized, and no embargo imposed if Hamas won a future election, as Israel and the U.S. did after its victory. Suleiman was in Saudi Arabia to brief King Abdullah on the Middle East peace talks, which have opened a new window of opportunity and impetus for Palestinian reconciliation. The meeting with the Hamas leader took place on the sidelines, obliquely affirming that The Hamas Factor is a front-and-center issue.

Just today, Hamas informed the United States it does not oppose the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. Any debate about Suleiman being credited for this breakthrough is a matter of extent only. Hamas also asked the United States to ease its restrictions (similar to those imposed by Israel), which they said were preventing the reconciliation with Fatah. How momentous the raising of this roadblock to reconciliation is can be measured by the very possibility of reconciliation it creates.

If the U.S. and Israel are serious about Middle East peace, they need to take The Hamas Factor into greater account, starting with easing sanctions which cause the massive suffering of Gaza residents, then moving on to recognize Hamas by realizing that a democratically elected party should not be rejected by other countries simply if they don't agree with them. Because without doing so, no factor will matter. And, who knows, maybe doing so will open a back door to the direct talks with Iran that candidate Obama promised, easing the Cold War-style arms race between Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia that the U.S. is fueling.

Photo Credit: WikiMedia Commons