New PA Government Creates a Real Problem for Israel

Two rival factions of the Palestinian Authority have reached agreement on forming a coalition government that was opposed by the US. Today, it was announced that, under Saudi mediation, feuding parties Hamas and Fatah agreed to share power in a carefully brokered yet uneasily constituted unity government. The new government as a whole does not recognize Israel, but is weighted with representatives who favor US and Israeli interests. The new government’s promise to abide by one condition – to “respect” previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements – could be enough to convince the US to resume giving aid to the struggling Authority. Both US and European officials, however, stressed that they will study the agreement further before committing to a position on the new government. Palestinians were celebrating the news of the compromise today, but keeping peace among the factions will require constant vigilance on the part of the new Palestinian mandate, as well as the international community. – YaleGlobal