As Hamas and Palestinian Authority officials release statements that the two organizations are on the cusp of forming a unity government, they are also busy continuing to attack Israel on the diplomatic front.
The two organizations violently split in 2007, when the Hamas army drove the Palestinian Authority army out of Gaza, primarily by killing and torturing its members. The Palestinian Authority only manages to maintain control in Judea and Samaria because of IDF support.
Hamas in listed as a terrorist organization in most countries.
Saeb Erekat, who represents the Palestinian Authority side, filed a complaint with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop over a meeting on Wednesday between Australian Ambassador Dave Sharma and Israel’s Minister of Construction and Housing, Uri Ariel.
The two met in Ariel’s ministry office, which is located in the Israel Government Center, in the Shimon HaTzadik (Sheich Jarrach) neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Erekat complained that Australia should not be meeting with Israelis in “Occupied East Jerusalem”.
To Australia credit, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said, in a January interview with the Times of Israel, that she isn’t convinced that Israeli construction in Israel’s territories in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria are a violation of international law, and called boycotts of Israel “anti-Semitic” and “Hypocritical beyond belief”.
This makes me curious what position Australia will take when the Hamas terrorist group officially merges with the PA.
I’m betting it will be a brave one.