THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- September 19, 2017- Topic 2
A hand from Hamas
On Palestinian reconciliation
Hamas’s decision to dissolve the Gaza administrative
committee and hold talks with Fatah is the strongest signal yet from the
Islamist group that it is ready to cooperate in finding common ground with its
political rival. Hamas, which won the 2006 elections in the Palestinian
territories, fought a war with Fatah in 2007 for the control of Gaza after its
West Bank government was dissolved by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud
Abbas.
Ever since, Mr. Abbas’s Fatah ruled those parts of the West Bank that are
not under Israeli control, while Hamas dominated Gaza. However, in recent
months Hamas has shown interest in a rapprochement as the
humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, blockaded by Israel and Egypt, worsens.
In May it adopted a new political charter, softening its stand on Israel and
accepting, for the first time, the idea of a Palestinian state based on the
1967 border. In the latest move, Hamas, after holding talks with Egyptian
officials, has said it would allow the reconciliation government based in
Ramallah to run Gaza and hold elections in the territories. Expectedly, Fatah
has welcomed the statement. Over the past decade, while Israel has steadily
tightened its occupation of the West Bank, the Palestinian leadership has been
unable to either mount an effective resistance or launch a convincing peace
bid, mainly because of the divisions within. Both Fatah and Hamas held talks
several times, but in vain, about solving differences and forming a unity
government.
Now that both have come forward and demonstrated a willingness to
compromise, the possibility of a rapprochement is higher. But this does not
mean the future will be smooth for Palestinians; sticky issues remain. Even if
both sides bury the hatchet and form a national unity government, Hamas’s role
in such an arrangement would continue to be contentious. Hamas is seen as a
terrorist organisation by several international actors, including the United
States, Israel and the European Union. This is one reason why the elected
government of Hamas was not allowed to rule a decade ago. Despite these
challenges, Hamas’s moderation is real and gradual. It first set aside a
charter, which Israel and its allies saw as an impediment to peace, and it is
now proposing intra-Palestinian reconciliation. This moderation offers an
opportunity not just for Fatah but for other stakeholders as well. If Fatah and
Hamas form a national government and ease the many restrictions currently in
place on Gaza, it would be a huge relief for the territory’s 1.8 million people.
A united bloc would also enhance the bargaining power of the Palestinians vis-Ã -vis Israel.
The international community should also realise the potential of these changes
and respond positively by putting pressure on Israel to come forward for a new
round of the peace process.
Vocabulary
Dissolve: close
down or dismiss an assembly or official body.
Example: The country's president can dissolve parliament under certain circumstances
Synonyms: disband, disestablish, bring to an
end, end, terminate, discontinue
Rapprochement: an establishment or resumption of harmonious relations.
Example: There were signs of a growing rapprochement between the two countries
Synonyms: reconciliation, increased
understanding, détente, restoration of harmony
Worsen: make
or become worse.
Example: Her condition worsened on the flight
Synonyms: aggravate, exacerbate, compound, add
to, intensify, increase
Reconciliation: the restoration of friendly relations.
Example: His reconciliation with your uncle
Synonyms: reuniting, reunion, bringing together
(again), conciliation
Steady: firmly
fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving.
Example: The lighter the camera, the harder it is to hold steady
Synonyms: stable, firm, fixed, secure, fast, safe, immovable, unshakable
Resistance: the refusal to accept or comply with something; the attempt to
prevent something by action or argument.
Example: She put up no resistance to being led away
Synonyms: opposition to, hostility to, refusal to accept
Hatchet: a
small ax with a short handle for use in one hand.
Example: A long handle version is about 36 inches long; a short handle, like a
hatchet , is 16 to 20 inches.
Synonyms: ax, tomahawk, cleaver, mattock
Contentious: causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
Example: A contentious issue
Synonyms: controversial, disputable, debatable, disputed, vexed
Impediment: a hindrance or obstruction in doing something.
Example: A serious impediment to scientific progress
Synonyms: hindrance, obstruction, obstacle, barrier, bar, block, handicap
Enhance: further
improve the quality, value, or extent of.
Example: His refusal does nothing to enhance his reputation
Synonyms: increase, add
to, intensify, heighten, magnify, amplify
Bargain: an
agreement between two or more parties as to what each party will do for the
other.
Example: The extraconstitutional bargain between the northern elite and the southern
planters
Synonyms: agreement, arrangement, understanding, deal, contract
