Gaza's never ending road to peace
Gaza's never ending road to peace
Analysis: Whether it's tying up a deal with Hamas' internal adversary Fatah, or its ultimate foe Israel, ending the blockade remains a distant dream.
3 min read
Steinmeier follows a number of politicians who have tried to lift the blockade [AFP]
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's foreign minister, made an undeclared visit to Gaza on Monday. Steinmeier was on an European mission - said to be desired by Israel - for a long-term truce with Hamas. The Gaza government have made it clear that such a truce with Israel would be short and not an open.
Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, said he did "not object to the proposed truce with Israel provided it does not lead to singling out of the West Bank by Israel".
According to sources, the outgoing representative of the Middle East Quartet, Tony Blair, stands behind the proposed truce. Broadly, the proposal suggests a lull for at least five years. In return Gaza would get a seaport, the reconstruction process would be quicker and smoother, and Israel would open the commercial crossings with Gaza while the Egyptian government would be encouraged to do likewise.
However, the international proposal would ease the siege on Gaza, not end it. The deal would also commit Hamas to ending armed resistance against Tel Aviv. Hamas objected to these demands and stipulated a complete lifting of the siege first.
The international proposal comes in the wake of Israeli and European fears about the imminent collapse of an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire between Palestinian factions and Israel concluded in August 2014.
What is noteworthy about the timing of Steinmeier's visit to Gaza is that it was not scheduled during his visit to the region, where he has met his European and regional counterparts to discuss the threat of the Islamic State group.
Open ended truce
During his visit to Gaza, he had met the cabinet ministers of the Palestinian national consensus government and a German-aided project for fishermen. He is the highest ranking European official to visit Gaza since the Israeli assault on the strip last summer.
The German minister warned that Gaza was still a "powder keg" and that "we must make sure it doesn't ignite".
Although Steinmeier did not meet any Hamas leaders, the movement's security agencies took part in policing his visit.
In a press conference held at Gaza's port, Steinmeier called for "exerting more efforts for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip" and called for the opening of the borders, and outside economic assistance and investments to aid in the process.
Steinmeier repeated that security, stability and reconstruction are interrelated. The aim and purpose of Steinmeier's visit raised questions in the Israeli press. "The surprise visit raises questions in view of the recent various media reports about the exchange of messages and communication between Israel and Hamas," said the Israeli Walla website.
Western initiatives are not confined to the truce proposal. Former US president Jimmy Carter began an initiative two months ago that would conclude an inter-Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah sponsored by Saudi Arabia and known as "Mecca 2".
It has been said that Carter asked the Saudi Arabia to sponsor a new reconciliation process between the two factions. Riyadh wants written pledges from both parties to commit to the accord, to avoid a similar fate to Mecca 1.
However, the stumbling block, according to sources. Mahmoud Abbas has refused to give his written commitment, saying that this would antagonise his Egyptian ally, who view Hamas as a "terrorist organisation".
This is an edited translation of the original Arabic.
Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, said he did "not object to the proposed truce with Israel provided it does not lead to singling out of the West Bank by Israel".
According to sources, the outgoing representative of the Middle East Quartet, Tony Blair, stands behind the proposed truce. Broadly, the proposal suggests a lull for at least five years. In return Gaza would get a seaport, the reconstruction process would be quicker and smoother, and Israel would open the commercial crossings with Gaza while the Egyptian government would be encouraged to do likewise.
However, the international proposal would ease the siege on Gaza, not end it. The deal would also commit Hamas to ending armed resistance against Tel Aviv. Hamas objected to these demands and stipulated a complete lifting of the siege first.
The international proposal comes in the wake of Israeli and European fears about the imminent collapse of an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire between Palestinian factions and Israel concluded in August 2014.
What is noteworthy about the timing of Steinmeier's visit to Gaza is that it was not scheduled during his visit to the region, where he has met his European and regional counterparts to discuss the threat of the Islamic State group.
Open ended truce
 |
Steinmeier warned that Gaza is still a 'powder keg' and that 'we must make sure it doesn't ignite'. |
During his visit to Gaza, he had met the cabinet ministers of the Palestinian national consensus government and a German-aided project for fishermen. He is the highest ranking European official to visit Gaza since the Israeli assault on the strip last summer.
The German minister warned that Gaza was still a "powder keg" and that "we must make sure it doesn't ignite".
Although Steinmeier did not meet any Hamas leaders, the movement's security agencies took part in policing his visit.
In a press conference held at Gaza's port, Steinmeier called for "exerting more efforts for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip" and called for the opening of the borders, and outside economic assistance and investments to aid in the process.
Steinmeier repeated that security, stability and reconstruction are interrelated. The aim and purpose of Steinmeier's visit raised questions in the Israeli press. "The surprise visit raises questions in view of the recent various media reports about the exchange of messages and communication between Israel and Hamas," said the Israeli Walla website.
Western initiatives are not confined to the truce proposal. Former US president Jimmy Carter began an initiative two months ago that would conclude an inter-Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah sponsored by Saudi Arabia and known as "Mecca 2".
It has been said that Carter asked the Saudi Arabia to sponsor a new reconciliation process between the two factions. Riyadh wants written pledges from both parties to commit to the accord, to avoid a similar fate to Mecca 1.
However, the stumbling block, according to sources. Mahmoud Abbas has refused to give his written commitment, saying that this would antagonise his Egyptian ally, who view Hamas as a "terrorist organisation".
This is an edited translation of the original Arabic.
