Fatah and Hamas at Crossroads: Reconcile or Separate? – Gershon Baskin

This Afternoon With IPCRI was held in Tel Aviv on the 19th of December 2012. The discussion was moderated by IPCRI’s Israeli co-CEO Dan Goldenblatt, and the panelists were Arnon Regular (Israeli), Dr. Gershon Baskin (Israeli) and Dr. Sufian Abu Zaida (Palestinian). The event discussed the current relationship between Hamas and Fatah, and how recent development in the region affected its dynamics and chances for improving.

Part 1
In this video, IPCRI’s Israeli co-CEO Dan Goldenblatt gives a short introduction to the current relationship between Fatah and Hamas. He explains how the last two months’ events in the region have changed the circumstances for this relationship and the possibilities for reconciliation.

Part 2
In this video, IPCRI’s founder and current co-chairman of the board Gershon Baskin, talks about how there was an actual chance for reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, but moderate forces in Gaza were weakened with the war against Israel, November 2012. He also points at how politicians within Hamas are reluctant to do the same mistakes as Fatah politicians in the West Bank; giving concession after concession to an Israeli government that in the end is unwilling to treat their adversary as a reliable partner for peace. This affects the possibilities of Hamas’ current political leaders cooperating more with Fatah.

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Gershon Baskin

Gershon Baskin is one of the most recognizable names in the Middle East Peace process. He is a political and social entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to peace between Israel and its neighbors. His dedication to creating a culture of peace and environmental awareness, coupled with his impeccable integrity, has earned him the trust of the leaders of all sides of the century old conflict. Few people have such far-reaching and positive impacts on promoting peace, security, prosperity and bi-national relationships. Gershon is an advisor to Israeli, Palestinian and International Prime Ministers on the Middle East Peace Process and the founder and director of IPCRI, the Israeli-Palestinian Public Policy Institute. He was the initiator and negotiator of the secret back channel between Israel and Hamas for the release of 1,027 prisoners – mainly Palestinians and Arab-Israelis of which 280 were sentenced to life in prison, including Yahya Sinwar, the current Palestinian leader of the Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The prisoners were imprisoned for planning and perpetrating various attacks against Jewish targets that resulted in the killing of 569 Israelis in exchange for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit. Gershon is actively involved in research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, environmental security, political strategy, peace education, economics, culture and in the development of affordable solar projects with the goal of providing clean electricity for 50 million people by 2020. He is a founding member of Kol Ezraheiha-Kol Muwanteneiha (All of the Citizens) political party in Israel. He is now directing The Holy Land Bond and is the Middle East Director for ICO – International Communities Organization - a UK based NGO working in conflict zones with failed peace processes.