Middle East: A new report focuses on the violent relationship between Fatah and Hamas, writes Michael Jansen
The International Crisis Group has issued its latest report on the the deterioration in the situation between Palestinians and Israelis.
The 54-page document, entitled Palestinians, Israel and the Quartet: Pulling Back from the Brink, warns: "On all fronts - Palestinian/Palestinian, Palestinian/Israeli and Palestinian/international - prevailing dynamics are leading to a dangerous breakdown."
Following 39 years of Israel's military occupation and reeling from international sanctions, the Hamas government is unable to pay salaries or provide basic services.
Diplomacy is frozen and gunmen from Hamas and the former ruling Fatah movement are fighting in Gaza and the West Bank. The Crisis Group, an NGO that studies conflict, is critical of president Mahmoud Abbas for issuing an ultimatum to Hamas to accept an initiative which implicitly recognises Israel or face a referendum on July 26th.
"The result has been an increasingly bitter and perilously violent relationship [ between Abbas/Fatah and Hamas], bringing [ Palestinians] to the brink of internecine conflict."
The quartet - the US, EU, UN and Russia, which takes a particular interest in Middle East peace - continues to insist that Hamas accept its three demands (recognise Israel, end violence and endorse past agreements) as the price of acceptance.
It does not however offer a strategy which would promote negotiations leading to an end to the Israeli occupation and Palestinian self- determination.
Instead, the quartet calculates that Hamas's failure to improve the life of Palestinians will lead to its downfall and the return to power of Mr Abbas and Fatah.
However, the Crisis Group argues that this approach is exacerbating factional strife because Hamas is likely to turn to violence to bring down the Palestinian Authority (PA) or to punish Israel. Meanwhile, Palestinians suffer the consequences of this policy and become more radical, fuelling the conflict.
The fall of the democratically elected Hamas government, engineered by the quartet and Israel, is certain to have negative regional repercussions.
The Crisis Group recommends that Hamas reinstate its truce, join the Palestine Liberation Organisation and recognise its primary role in negotiations with Israel. Hamas should form a national unity government and reactivate the National Security Council, with the aim of putting militias under PA control.
Israel is required to end offensive military operations, free Palestinian prisoners who have not committed offences and release tax and tariff revenues to the donor mechanism handling payments to the Palestinians.
The quartet is required to ensure that Israel fulfils its humanitarian obligations to the Palestinians under international law, reject boundaries established by unilateral Israeli measures and present a viable plan for a final settlement between Palestinians and Israelis.
The EU is asked to reinstate contacts with the Palestinian government and restore 2005 levels of financial aid.
Washington, criticised for its hard line towards the Palestinians, is told to grant exemptions from US sanctions to international organisations and banks handling funds destined for the Palestinian Authority.
The Crisis Group says what is required is a "nuanced approach" that avoids resumption of Israeli- Palestinian hostilities, averts Palestinian civil conflict and prevents Israel from adopting policies which prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state and pre-empt negotiations.