Haaretz reports a new agreement between Fatah and Hamas, reached in Cairo. Haaretz also reports that Israel and the “Quartet” are unhappy with the agreement. It appears that Hamas explicitly contradicts a basic tenet of Netanyahu’s Likud party.

Haaretz on Hamas:

            Hamas is set to remain the target of a Western diplomatic boycott until it complies. Still, its leaders have repeatedly said they will never recognize Israel, which they want replaced with an Islamic state in all of historic Palestine.

Likud’s platform:

                Self-Rule

The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan River.

And, to avoid a power vacuum in the area that the international community intends for an eventual Palestinian state, Likud adds:

The Jordan River as a Permanent Border

The Jordan Valley and the territories that dominate it shall be under Israeli sovereignty. The Jordan River will be the permanent eastern border of the State of Israel.

The Jordan Valley and the territories that dominate it shall be under Israeli sovereignty. The Jordan River will be the permanent eastern border of the State of Israel.

While the West can boycott any Palestinian government that includes Hamas, it seems to shut its eyes to the Israeli government formed by Likud.

 Of course, there is no longer any pretense of "even-handedness,"the euphemism for neutrality. AIPAC calls the shots.