Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Palestinian government ties in question after unity deal

Harper government says it won't support a Palestinian government that includes Hamas as it currently stands.

The Harper government says it won't support a future Hamas-Fatah unity government unless Hamas renounces violence and recognizes Israel, leading some analysts to fear that Canadian aid to the region is in jeopardy.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashal signed a power-sharing deal in Doha, Qatar on Feb. 6 that states that Mr. Abbas would head a new interim government, one that would make room for new Palestinian presidential and parliamentary elections.

Since 2007, Hamas and Fatah have effectively controlled two different Palestinian territories; Fatah has controlled the West Bank while Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip. But in the spring of 2011, the two began to reconcile, leading to the Feb. 6 deal.

Canada funds projects in the West Bank and Gaza, but lists Hamas as a terrorist group, meaning Canadian officials have very limited contact in Gaza and officially none with its government.

The Conservatives have also kept up the anti-Hamas rhetoric, with Canada's new counter-terrorism strategy, released last week by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, blaming Hamas for "several hundred terrorist attacks" and saying it "continues to present an obstacle to regional peace."

And in a trip to Israel last month, Foreign Minister John Baird made sure to highlight that the country has "no better friend" than Canada.

As a result, Canada says it would reject a new Palestinian unity government if Hamas became involved.

"Canada cannot support a government that includes Hamas, unless Hamas adopts the Quartet principles of renunciation of violence, recognition of Israel, and respect for all previous diplomatic agreements," wrote Rick Roth, spokesperson for Mr. Baird, in an email to Embassy.

He was referring to the set of three requirements for diplomatic recognition laid out by the Quartet on the Middle East, the Israeli–Palestinian peace process body made up of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and Russia, established in 2002.

The Israeli government stated in a Feb. 8 release that "[Palestinian Authority] President Abbas cannot have it both ways, either he has a pact with Hamas or he has peace with Israel."

But the new interim government does not technically include any political members yet, said Said M.I. Hamad, head of the Palestinian Delegation in Canada.

Instead, it will be made up of independents and technocrats—scientists, lawyers, or other technical experts.

"Hamas will not be part of any government headed by [Mr. Abbas] at this time, but whatever happens in the elections, when we hold elections, that is something else," he said.

The sole purpose of the government would be to prepare for elections and handle reconstruction of Gaza, Mr. Hamad said, adding that while the elections were scheduled for May, they will likely be pushed back.

But he also argued that any resulting government would be "fully committed to President [Abbas'] political program," and that the deal involves Hamas accepting all agreements signed with Israel, and that being part of the Palestinian government means recognizing the state of Israel.


Future of aid

Some worry the Canadian government may try to use the deal as a pretext to reduce funding for aid projects or to scale back diplomatic ties with Palestinians.

Patricia Jean, vice-president of advocacy for Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, wrote as much in an email to Embassy.

The Canadian International Development Agency includes the West Bank and Gaza in its list of "countries of focus." The aid agency's website lists several projects that are still supposed to be operational for at least another few years.

When asked whether any of these projects would be affected, Justin Broekema, spokesperson for International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda, wrote in an email that no decisions would be made until a formal change in government is finalized.

Fouad Sahyoun, vice-president of the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, said he hopes the Canadian government will not resort to aid cuts.

"We still believe that Canada is based on human rights and I hope funds to people will not be cut as a result of their political choice and free aspiration," Mr. Sahyoun said.

"Hamas was elected democratically by the Palestinian people, and as such they represent a good cross section of the Palestinian people," he said.


Will unity last?

Meir Amor, an associate sociology professor at Concordia University, said while a unity government would be good progress, it would only be the initial step in a very long journey.

The Palestinian people are divided at the moment, and a united government would allow them to say something in common, he said. But he added he doesn't think the Palestinians have yet formed a major challenge to Israel's way of looking at the conflict.

Meanwhile, Michael Bell, Paul Martin Sr. Scholar in International Diplomacy at the University of Windsor and former ambassador to Israel, said he doesn't think the unity deal would last very long.

"It's already showing signs of being on the ropes in terms of Hamas objections to [Mr. Abbas] being both president and prime minister," he said.

Mr. Hamad said it is the Palestinian Liberation Organization, of which Mr. Abbas is the chairman—not the interim government—that would be in charge of negotiating with Israel; Hamas is currently not part of the PLO. All the same, Mr. Hamad said the PLO and Hamas are in discussions about the latter joining the former.

Mira Sucharov, an associate political science professor at Carleton University, said she thinks a unity deal is a necessary condition for any peace process to take place in a meaningful way.

An agreement with just Israel and the Palestinian Authority risks having the spoiler effect, Ms. Sucharov said.

"[It] risks having Hamas not sign on and continue to sabotage efforts for peace and continue to launch rockets over Gaza and into southern Israel and to continue to make Israelis doubtful for the possibility for Israeli-Palestinian peace."

But with a joint government or having Hamas be part of the process would mean that the group would be bound to any agreement the Israelis and Palestinians make, she said.

"It's a necessary condition, but it doesn't mean that isn't something some Israelis are going to be skeptical about and some in the Canadian government are going to be skeptical about."

Original Article
Source: embassy mag 
Author: Sneh Duggal 

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