In the Washington Post, Daoud Kuttab argues that the new PA government already recognizes Israel:
For the first time in the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, a majority of Palestinians, including the Islamists, are willing to accept a Palestinian state within the internationally acceptable borders of 1967. The implicit recognition of Israel in this is supported by clauses in agreements between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel that included mutual recognition as well as respect for Arab and international resolutions and treaties. By demanding explicit recognition before negotiations can begin, Israel and others are being unreasonable.
Kuttab leaves four points unaddressed:
* The Hamas vision of “peace” is Palestinian sovereignty along the 1967 borders in exchange for a temporary period of calm.
* When Hamas refers to “occupation,” it refers to all land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
* Nothing indicates that the Islamists have turned a corner. Sovereignty along the 1967 borders is a step in their phased plan to destroy Israel.
* What changed? Last week, Hamas’ own “military wing” took credit for a shooting an Israeli and a thwarted suicide bombing.
