Back to the rejectionist bunker

Protective Edge exposed Hamas' diplomatic isolation in the majority of the Arab world. This reality could have positive geopolitical ramifications for our region, including in the Palestinian arena. There are those trying to tie the reasons for the recent war to the collapse of negotiations between Israel and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, despite the fact that the two have nothing to do with the other; not only because Hamas was not part of the talks but also because Hamas does not see the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, which it seeks to destroy, as a goal whatsoever. Abbas' ascending stature against Hamas' downturn, and the region's whirling political winds -- open a small window for a new realignment in the Middle East.

Israel is interested in advancing a political arrangement, but the question is: Will the Abbas-led Palestinian Authority return to old habits or will it be prepared this time to approach negotiations with clean hands?

In the meantime, although it seems Abbas has had enough of reconciliation with Hamas, he has yet to sever ties with it and his old-new "peace plan" actually points to continued rejectionist and contrarian tactics, aimed at sabotaging any real negotiation based on mutual compromises and abandoning preconditions. Case in point, his demand that the future border between Israel and Palestine be the first issue on the agenda willfully ignores the fact that this matter, even according to U.N. Resolution 242, must be derived from security arrangements put in place and not vice versa. This demand is a clear signal that Abbas wants to throw a wrench into any direct negotiations with Israel in favor of again turning to the United Nations and International Criminal Court at The Hage, which are already skewed against Israel.

Any such movement toward these international institutions will allow Abbas to bypass seriously discussing the "core" issues -- among them Jerusalem and the "right of return" -- which would require the Palestinians to compromise and make concessions.

The United States is adhering to its clear and customary position on this matter: support of direct negotiations between the sides without preconditions, and opposition to unilateral diplomatic initiatives. The Palestinians' intentions, therefore, do not coincide with the American position, and we can only hope that when Abbas' transparent scheme is raised for discussion in the U.N. Security Council, Washington will respond and act in accordance to its stated positions.