“The European Union in Brussels declared that [unity between Hamas and Fatah] was a purely Palestinian affair, but added that the EU saw in the agreement an important step toward the creation of a Palestinian State. A US State Department spokesman also said that it was an internal affair, but added that the American administration expected that any Palestinian government would respect first and foremost the recognition of Israel.

Technically, the American government cannot transfer assistance to Hamas, which is a terrorist organization, and it is hard to see how Abbas can circumvent this problem. One possible explanation is that the Palestinian leader was unable to withstand the pressure of the Emir of Qatar, whose prestige was as stake – and who is one of the biggest contributors to the Palestinian Authority.

The composition of the new government is supposed to be announced on February 18, following discussions between all parties. Abbas has already declared that he would not be a candidate for the presidency. This could be the end of the road for a leader who knows that he has failed to establish a Palestinian state by turning to the United Nations and bypassing Israel.”

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