A War In Gaza Threatening To Redraw The Map Of The Middle East
By Donald Macintyre in Jerusalem
Published: 15 June 2007
Independent
...The near-rout of Fatah in Gaza is a signal setback to the US-led policy of trying to bolster Fatah forces with money, training and equipment, while continuing the total isolation of Hamas despite increasing signs of strain between the political and the military wings.
While the former appeared ready to try to make the national unity government work, the latter argued that it had failed to achieve a lifting of the international boycott.
Israeli officials were quoted as saying that Ehud Olmert would tell President George Bush that Gaza and the West Bank will now have to be treated differently, and that the military would need to enforce a "separation policy" between the two Palestinian entities.
In fact, even in relatively peaceful times, Gaza has been almost totally separated from the West Bank.
The comprehensive agreement which Condoleezza Rice thought she had brokered in November 2005, and which included provisions for "safe passage" from Gaza to the West Bank, has not been implemented.
Israel retains control of Gaza's crossings, territorial waters, and airspace.
Nevertheless the Israeli hints suggested the possibility of a "West Bank first" policy of trying to reach agreements with Mr Abbas which ignore Gaza.
In terms of progress to a long-term settlement there are paradoxes in this approach, because there is little to negotiate about over Gaza, which is bounded by pre-1967 borders and where there are no longer any settlements.
Negotiations about Jerusalem and the borders between Israel and the West Bank are much more fraught.
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