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Israel's Policy towards the Palestinian Unity Government
 The Palestinian Government's platform, which include, inter alia, the use of terror as a legitimate right, the acceptance of previous agreements with Israel based only in accordance with Palestinian interests, as well as limitations the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority took upon himself, including bringing any agreement with Israel to the authorization of the new Palestinian National Council and the Palestinian Diaspora, gives, in essence, a veto right to Hamas and other terrorist organizations over any agreement that would be reached with Israel, and limits the possibilities and range of topics which Israel can discuss with the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority. (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
See also Qassam Rockets Hit South Day After New Palestinian Government Sworn In by Shmulik Hadad (Ynet News)
Hamas: No Chance of Ever Recognizing Israel
by Ali Waked
 “There isn’t a chance any Hamas leader will ever recognize Israel,” said outgoing Palestinian Interior Minister Said Siam. “We will not betray our values and we will not betray our land. We will leave this world as shahids (martyrs) without recognizing Israel.” Siam further noted that if any Hamas member dared recognize Israel, he would be swiftly ejected from the movement. Siam did not deny, however, that considering Hamas’ values the current unity government was not ideal. However, the deadly intra-Palestinian conflicts necessitated certain concessions, he noted. (Ynet News)
See also Terrorist Toddler Touted by Hamas (WorldNetDaily)
See also Palestinian PM Declares: "We'll Never Recognize Israel" (YouTube)
Hamas-Iran Links Full of Contradictions, But Also Mutual Interest
 When Iraq hung Saddam Hussein, furious Sunni Muslims in the militant group Hamas held mourning ceremonies. That did not sit well with Shiite Muslim Iran, one of Hamas' key backers but also a strong Saddam foe. Yet the dispute over Saddam's execution did not break the Hamas-Iran alliance, either. Instead the two - bound by common strategic interests - have solidified their relationship in the last year, creating a growing worry for both some Arab countries and for Israel. (AP/International Herald Tribune)
Hunted Women of the Gaza
by Martin Chulov
 Three gunshots rang out across the damp sand dunes of northern Gaza. There lay the crumpled body of a small woman, wearing a green Islamic gown and a full black veil. The dead woman was Dalal al-Behtete, a young woman from a struggling family in central Gaza. Seven other women have met the same violent and lonely fate across Gaza during a 10-day stretch this month. According to their assassins, their deaths gave them honour that their conduct in life had not. All the women had been accused of immoral behaviour. So-called honor killings have been carried out here in the past, but even in this ramshackle, anarchistic and fractured society, women have never before been hunted down so blatantly. (The Australian)
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Supreme Commander of NATO Calls Israel 'Model State,' Important Ally
by Amir Oren
 The supreme commander of NATO operations in Europe and head of the U.S. European Command (EUCOM), John Craddock, called Israel a "model state" and the United States' closest ally in the Middle East. Craddock spoke before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee in Washington last week. He said Israel consistently and directly supported U.S. interests by means of security cooperation and understanding U.S. policy in the region. He commended the stability of Israel's government and said Israel was a model state that encouraged democratic ideals and pro-Western values and economics. (Ha'aretz)
Quartet: PA Government Must Demonstrate "Credible Commitment to Quartet Principles"
Representatives of the "Quartet" discussed by telephone last week the establishment of a Palestinian national unity government. The Quartet reaffirmed its previous statements with regard to the need for a Palestinian government committed to nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. The Quartet expressed its expectation that the unity government will act responsibly and demonstrate clear and credible commitment to the Quartet principles. (State Department)
See also Israel Welcomes, Palestinians Slam Quartet Boycott Extension (AFP/Yahoo)
Aid to Palestinians Rose in '06 Despite Embargo
by Steven Erlanger
Despite the international embargo on aid to the PA since Hamas came to power a year ago, significantly more aid was delivered to the Palestinians in 2006 than in 2005, according to official figures from the UN, U.S., EU, and IMF. Palestinians received $1.2 billion in aid in 2006, compared with $1 billion in 2005. Washington increased its aid to $468 million in 2006, from $400 million in 2005. The EU and its member states alone are subsidizing one million people in the West Bank and Gaza, a quarter of the population. While starvation has been avoided, a culture of dependence is expanding. (New York Times)
New Palestinian High School Textbooks Reject Existence of Israel, Peace
by Or Kashti
New textbooks for 12th-grade Palestinian students reject the existence of Israel and make no attempt to educate students about peace or coexistence, according to Palestinian Media Watch. The textbooks were written by the Center for Developing the Palestinian Curricula and introduced by the PA at the end of 2006. The textbooks define Israel's founding as a theft perpetrated by "Zionist gangs," describe Israel as "colonial imperialist" and "racist," present the conflict as a religious war, and leave "no latitude for students to have positive or even neutral attitudes toward Israel," wrote PMW's Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook in a February report. "Maps of the region likewise teach children to visualize a world without Israel, as Israel does not exist on any map and its area is marked as 'Palestine.'" (Ha'aretz)
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