Mecca Agreement

Palestinian leaders recently met in Mecca, Saudi Arabia to discuss how to curb fighting between rival Fatah and Hamas factions that has brought Gaza to the brink of civil war. At the meeting, representatives of the two groups came to an agreement—the "Mecca Agreement"—that calls for a ceasefire and requires the two groups to form a unity Palestinian government.

For some, this agreement raises hopes that a new Palestinian leadership coalition has emerged that may be willing to make peace with Israel. They argue that Hamas, the more radical of the two Palestinian groups, will now be forced to moderate its virulently anti-Israel positions.

The problem is that the Mecca Agreement does not require either Palestinian group to recognize Israel or renounce terrorism—two steps that are absolutely necessary for a lasting peace. How can Israel be expected to coexist with a neighbor whose founding document, the Hamas Charter, refers to the Jewish state as the "Zionist invaders" and declares that "Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it"?

From Hamas' standpoint, the Mecca Agreement is a "win-win" situation. It can retain its founding principles and, by clothing itself with a false air of respectability, possibly regain hundreds of millions of dollars in financial support from the West that was withdrawn nearly a year ago when Hamas first came to power.

Just how serious is Hamas about making peace? You can judge for yourself. Shortly after the Mecca Agreement was announced, one Hamas leader was quoted as saying, "Our battle with the Israeli enemy is still on…. We will be the spearhead of jihad … to defend Arab and Muslim nations."

These are not the words of someone interested in making peace. Quite the contrary. These words reflect the "heart of Hamas" and give testimony why past agreements and cease fires have been quickly broken. The fact is, no agreement will bring peace to this region of the Middle East until Palestinian leadership commits itself to ending terrorism and recognizing Israel's right to exist. And, until this happens, Israel has every right to remain skeptical and refuse to recognize the new Palestinian government.