Foggy Bottom Statement on Hamas

Haaretz is reporting that State Department Spokesman Gordon Duguid has said that,

"U.S. policy toward Hamas would not change until the Islamist militant group accepted the existence of Israel, stopped trying to violently overthrow Israel, sought to reengage in the peace process and stopped trying to rearm by smuggling rockets and other arms into Gaza."

That being the case George "Grouper" Mitchell, looks like you'll have a long time to wait on that Palestinian unity government you're dreaming about.  

Meanwhile in Ramallah, a PA official is quoted as saying that the Pampers Kangaroo Court has given the green light for unity talks between the factions.  The above conditions do not as yet seem to be an issue registering in the minds of either the PA, Hamas, or the Egyptians.  Quelle surprise!  In fact, it appears that the PA/Hamas desire for unity is being born out of worry as to what kind of government Netanyahu is going to form, now that Shimon Peres has given him the go ahead to do so (it could also be a feint by both sides in attempt to vanquish political rivals once and for all...possibly leading to a new round of toss your foe off a building). It sounds like a stance of resistance rather than one of negotiation; understandable considering the block Israeli's voted for is one that clearly wants Hamas to be taken out.  I second that emotion.  But a two-state solution is not in the mind of Bibi, or the Israeli right, or on the minds of Fatah and Hamas.

I personally support an eventual one state solution (I think my vision is a bit different from Likud's or the PA). But this can only be achieved when the Fatah/Hamas terror kleptocracy is brought to a permanent end, and the establishing of an economic federation is begun that represents the building of a true symbiosis between Palestinians and Israelis, and creates a political atmosphere in which the Palestinians can build institutions/parties that are not predicated on Israel's destruction, which could eventually be part of a government that would exist democratically for Jews and Arabs to live as equals between the Mediterranean and the Jordan.

Is this likely to happen?  I doubt in my lifetime.  In fact, monkeys will most likely fly out of my butt first.  With Fatah/Hamas still seen as the governmental authorities there, and a unicameral Israeli governmental system that continues to indulge the religious right that, in its heart wants an Arab free Israel, there is not even a foundation on which to take the first step to real peace and end to this conflict.  Get rid of the terror kleptocracy first, while Israel establishes a constitution with a bi-cameral legislature.  Then talk.  Until then there is no point.  I suspect that Bibi will reject legitimate talks out of hand.

Has the stage been set for a Peron Jr. Jr. administration spat?  Oh I hope so.