2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac
2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac
2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
PEACE PROCESS<br />
The Palestinian Divide: Impediment<br />
to Peace<br />
The Palestinians are ruled by two rival factions: the Palestinian Authority<br />
(PA) in the West Bank and the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza. Hamas’<br />
continued violence and refusal to recognize Israel, as well as PLO Chairman<br />
Mahmoud Abbas’ refusal to negotiate and efforts at the United Nations,<br />
compound the difficulty of reaching an Israeli-Palestinian agreement.<br />
KEY POINTS<br />
• The Palestinian Authority (PA) governs in the West Bank, where the dominant political force<br />
is the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Fatah Party.<br />
• Although the Palestinians have said that they are committed to reaching an agreement with<br />
Israel, they are currently refusing to enter direct, high-level negotiations with Israel.<br />
• In a step opposed by the United States and that further hindered the peace process, the PLO<br />
upgraded its status at the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) and has threatened to use this new<br />
status to isolate Israel in the international arena.<br />
• The U.S.-designated terrorist group Hamas, which is committed to destroying Israel and<br />
replacing it with an Islamic state, rules the Gaza Strip, and has fired some 9,500 rockets and<br />
mortars on Israel since it withdrew from the area in 2005.<br />
The Important Role That Congress Can Play<br />
Congress should continue to support Palestinian leaders committed to peace with Israel and opposed<br />
to violence. Congress should press the Palestinian leadership to resume direct negotiations with Israel<br />
without preconditions. Congress should continue to send a clear message to the Palestinians that there<br />
are consequences for pursuing action against Israel at the United Nations and other international fora.<br />
Congress should also continue to insist that Hamas cannot be a partner for negotiations or part of<br />
a Palestinian Authority government until it meets key requirements demanded by the international<br />
Quartet (the United States, E.U., Russia and the United Nations): recognize Israel, renounce violence<br />
and accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements.<br />
149