After years of virtual isolation, the Gaza Strip yesterday celebrated the opening of its border with Egypt. The move by the post-Hosni Mubarak regime is a milestone that should be interpreted as an incentive to re-integrate Gaza and its main power broker, Hamas, into the Arab fold and pave the way for genuine Palestinian reconciliation.
Hamas can no longer claim that it is being shunned by its Arab brethren and must look at ways to start a transition to a unity government with its main rival Fatah, led by President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Egyptian move also coincides with a renewed Arab push, spearheaded by the Arab League and the UAE — in its clear-cut position before the Non- Aligned Movement yesterday — to get the United Nations to recognise the right of the Palestinian people to an independent state.
These steps, a drastic change on the otherwise stagnant Palestinian front, should be seized by Palestinian leaders in the West Bank and Gaza to offer a viable alternative to the hawkish attitude of the Netanyahu government; an alternative based on a just and peaceful settlement to the Middle East conflict.
Therefore, both Hamas and Fatah should denounce yesterday's childish and suspicious attempt by an unknown group to increase tension by firing primitive rockets at Israeli colonies north of the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinians have no real interest in antagonising world public opinion when an increasing number of world leaders are ready to recognise a Palestinian state. The real interest of the Palestinians lies in a peaceful solution that ensures an end to the occupation and the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The UN and the United States have already declared that the principle of peace is the return to the 1967 borders. The ball remains in the Israeli court; Tel Aviv has to commit to the conditions of peace. This is not the time to reshuffle the cards.
