JERUSALEM (AFP) – Isræls Benjamin Netanyahu visits the United Kingdom and France this week, he will point to a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation deal as part of its fight to stave off UN recognition of a Palestinian State.
Hours before arriving in the United Kingdom, Netanyahu urged Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas "totally cancel the" the agreement, which seeks to end years of bad blood between the secular Fatah movement and its Islamist Hamas rivals.
Agreement signed on Tuesday, will see the two fractions work together to build a transitional Government of independent candidates, while the issue of peace talks in the hands of the Palestine Liberation Organization, led by Abbas.
But Netanyahu will tell its French and British colleagues that Israel cannot negotiate with the agreement in place, pointing in particular at Hamass unreservedly the condemnation of the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by US forces on Sunday.
"The agreement between Abu Mazen (Abbas) and Hamas deals a harsh blow for the peace process," said Netanyahu shortly before leaving.
"How can we make peace with the Government, when half of it calls for the destruction of Israel and glorify murderous Osama bin Laden?"
Hamas's reference to bin Laden as "a Holy warrior" on Tuesday triggered a sharp response from London, as well as from the US State Department, which described the Islamists answers as "scandalous."
But in Israel, comments--described by one paper as "inconceivable stupidity" of Hamas--were seen as entirely to play Netanyahu's hands.
"Response of Hamas, who condemned bin Laden? s assassination, Israel forces were only? s position and sends responsibility rolling against Abu Mazen, "a political official told the newspaper, Israel Hayom.
Even as Netanyahu looks set to face a skeptical audience in London and Paris, with President Nicolas Sarkozy gives the clearest indication yet that France recognise an independent Palestinian State if peace talks do not resume soon.
"If the peace process are still died in September, France will live up to its responsibilities on the key issue of recognition of a Palestinian State," he said in an interview with L'Express magazine.
Analysts expect British Prime minister David Cameron, whom Netanyahu meet Wednesday, and Sarkozy, whom he meets on Thursday to listen politely, but reserve the right to immediate assessment.
"There is so much happening in the Middle East truly dramatic Import, the endless dance of isrælerne and the Palestinians are struggling a bit to get the attention it deserves a time perhaps," said Jonathan Spyer, a political analyst at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center.
Netanyahu has said he will outline a new political initiative, when he addresses a joint meeting of the US Congress in may, but so far he has kept his cards close to his chest.
In the meantime, he tries to fend off European support for a Palestinian bid to win UN recognition for a State within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital in a Move expected to take place in September's annual general meeting.
Israel and the United States against such a step to say a Palestinian State can only be achieved through negotiation.
But the United Kingdom and France see things differently, with their UN envoys indicates last month they can back the Palestinian campaign as a way to resume the peace process.
Spyer sees no breakthrough for Netanyahu on this trip, but he believes that this drawing the attention of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority's new relationship with Hamas--which is blacklisted by the European Union as a terrorist organisation--will carry some weight.
"Israel will have a case to say:" as long as these guys are on board what you expect us to do? " That the matter will be challenged, but the case is makeable, ' he says.
But the Jerusalem Post suggested that many Europeans would see unity deal between the rival Palestinian movements as a sign of weakening its position by Hamas.
"Months votes proclaimed ... Hamas can be brought into the pirates by political tent "diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon wrote in the weekend.
"Rather than postponing, like most isrælerne were aware that the Palestinian Authority is on the verge to integrate in its coalition Government an organisation, which calls for Isræls destruction, for many people in Europe want to see this move as an indication, Hamas has been pragmatic and more ' moderate ' as a result of the apparent loss of his patron in Syria."
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