Following multiple meetings with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal has reportedly come out in favor of negotiations with Israel and supporting the idea of a two-state solution.
Top PLO official Saeb Erekat, a member of the Fatah faction, has cheered the announcement, the first time a Hamas leader has so publicly endorsed the idea of a peace treaty.
Mashaal’s change of position is likely fueled at least in part by his interest in replacing Mahmoud Abbas as the head of the PLO, and reports that King Abdullah, an outspoken advocate of the two-state solution, is backing Mashaal’s bid.
Though Hamas has solid support in Palestine and could conceivably replace Fatah at the head of the PLO, doing so would be difficult without some acquiescence, if only privately, from the US and Israel. This change could go a long way toward that, though, Israeli officials will likely not publicly admit if their position on Hamas changes as a result.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- Russian DM: Israeli Warplanes Caused Shoot-down of Russian Plane Near Syria; 15 Troops Killed - September 18th, 2018
- Taliban Kill at Least 27 Security Forces in Attacks Across Afghanistan - September 17th, 2018
- Iraq to Deploy More Troops to Turkey Border - September 17th, 2018
- North and South Korea Push to End Korean War, but U.S. Opposes - September 17th, 2018
- US Air Force Pushes for Massive Increase in Spending - September 17th, 2018
How can there be two-state solution when the Israelis are dividing up the remaining Palestinian land with illegal settlements and jews only roads? I can't believe Hamas really believes in a two-state solution.
The only concern of americans should be the end of the occupation of the west bank and the blockade of the gaza strip, what ever particular arrangement people come in order to achieve peace, and in a way more importantly prosperity, is no one else's concern,
one state and two state solutions are both just means of explaining the current status quo,
do we have one state with half the population living under apartheid or do we have two states with one occupying the other.