Photo Credit: Abed Rahim Khatib / Flash 90
Palestinian Authority Arabs wave the flags of two PA factions, Fatah (yellow) and Hamas (green) in support of unity.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also warned world leaders not to recognize the unity government. He called an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday night, ahead of the planned unity government declaration. At that meeting, the ministers agreed to completely halt negotiations with the Fatah-led PA as long as it remains united with Hamas, and to lower the amount of money transferred to the entity. So far, Israel will not entirely choke off all of the funds funneled to the PA government.

Why, remains a mystery.

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“I call on all the responsible elements in the international community not to hurry and recognize a Palestinian government which includes Hamas or leaning on Hamas,” Netanyahu said. “Hamas is a terrorist organization which calls for the destruction of Israel and the international community must not embrace it. This will not strengthen peace, it will strengthen terror.”

In fact, everyone on stage is playing their roles very nicely. Good cops, bad cops, protagonist and villains. So how can a unity government including Hamas possibly be committed to nonviolence and recognize Israel?

It can’t.

But according to Arab sources with whom this journalist spoke, it won’t have to – because it can’t last, even if it does manage to survive the first day.

“You don’t understand,” smiled Moussa* (name changed to protect identity.) “This is a dance for public consumption – something we all know. Fatah hates Hamas, worse than the Arabs hate the Jews, worse than the Jews hate the Arabs. Hamas hates Fatah.”

His friend Salim added a further bit of clarity. “Hamas is made up of observant Muslims. Fatah is made up of those who are secular. They cannot bear each other for even five minutes. Haven’t you wondered why Abbas isn’t sitting in Gaza drinking coffee with [Hamas leader Ismail] Haniyeh by now?”

Moussa* went on to explain that he believes the “dance” was arranged via third parties between Netanyahu and Abbas so as to remove the pressure created by U.S. President Barack Obama’s need to show America a successful deal in the Middle East.

“It’s just the easiest way for everyone to climb down from the tree,” he said. “Everyone knows there’s no way that Fatah can build a government with Hamas. That’s ridiculous.”

He chuckled comfortably, and passed small cups of thick, sweet Bedouin coffee to everyone sitting around the low table. No one seemed surprised.

“Don’t worry.”

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Hana Levi Julian is a Middle East news analyst with a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University. A past columnist with The Jewish Press and senior editor at Arutz 7, Ms. Julian has written for Babble.com, Chabad.org and other media outlets, in addition to her years working in broadcast journalism.