ABSTRACT
In June 2007, a brief civil war between Hamas and Fatah culminated in a decisive victory for Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Consequently, political control over Palestinian territory is now divided between Hamas (in the Gaza Strip) and Fatah (in the West Bank). This de facto division will greatly complicate efforts to negotiate a settlement with Israel, because Israel refuses to deal with Hamas. The international community refuses to accept the election of Hamas because it does not recognise the state of Israel and will not renounce violence. This has resulted in fi nancial embargos of the PA since Hamas took offi ce. Indeed, on 27 December 2008 Israel launched a full-blooded twenty-two-day attack on Gaza in an unsuccessful attempt to remove Hamas. Despite reconciliation negotiations, the status quo remains with Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip and the Fatah-dominated PA governing the West Bank. President Abbas has refused to resume negotiations with the current Israeli Prime Minister Binyaiam Netanyahu until Israel ceases all settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
