The latest violence in Gaza has created de facto Islamic (i.e. Hamas) security-based control over Gaza and nationalist (i.e. PLO) control -- along with a new emergency government -- in the West Bank. The international community will quickly turn on the money faucet to the non-Hamas government, and Gaza will be left to burn and starve under the rule of the Palestinian Islamists.
George Bush has called President Abbas and pledged a renewal of diplomatic and financial support to the emergency government in the West Bank. International aid will most likely also come to UN agencies serving in Gaza to alleviate the human suffering, but it is unlikely that anyone will support the de facto government there.
Ironically, as a result of the current emergency situation, Palestinian statehood is a very serious possibility today in parts of the West Bank without the old city of Jerusalem and without a corridor to Gaza. But is it the contiguous territory and viable independent state that Palestinians have dreamed of? That seems unlikely. A Palestinian state is therefore either a real possibility or next-to-impossible depending on what shape and borders such a state would have.
Please e-mail PostGlobal if you'd like to receive an email notification when PostGlobal sends out a new question.
Email Me | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
