April 28, 2011
The Independent (UK)

Israel Dismayed As Fatah Strikes Surprise Deal With Hamas

by Catrina Stewart

The Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have agreed to end a four-year rift in a surprise move that could have profound implications for the stalled Arab-Israeli peace process.

Fatah, the party dominant in the West Bank, and its Islamist rival Hamas, which governs Gaza, have reached a preliminary agreement to form an interim government within days and hold general elections within the year, Palestinian and Egyptian officials said. . . .

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Vita Bekker and Heba Saleh, "Palestinian drive for unity alarms Israel," ft.com, April 28, 2011

[Egypt is charting a new course in its foreign policy that has already begun shaking up the established order in the Middle East, planning to open the blockaded border with Gaza and normalizing relations with two of Israel and the West's Islamist foes, Hamas and Iran.--David D. Kirkpatrick, "In Shift, Egypt Warms to Iran and Hamas, Israel's Foes," nytimes.com, April 28, 2011]

Ali Abunimah, "'Text' of Hamas-Fatah deal emerges and it doesn't look good," electronicintifada.net, May 3, 2011

Catrina Stewart, "Hamas and Fatah sign historic deal backing new Palestinian unity," Independent, May 5, 2011

"Israel and Palestine Here comes your non-violent resistance," economist.com, May 17, 2011

Robert Fisk, "Revealed: the untold story of the deal that shocked the Middle East," Independent, June 7, 2011

Peter Beaumont and Paul Lewis, "Fatah and Hamas agree landmark pact after seven-year rift," theguardian.com, April 23, 2014

[First, the Israelis helped build up a militant strain of Palestinian political Islam, in the form of Hamas and its Muslim Brotherhood precursors; then, the Israelis switched tack and tried to bomb, besiege, and blockade it out of existence.--Mehdi Hasan, "Blowback: How Israel Went From Helping Create Hamas to Bombing It," theintercept.com, February 19 2018]