Hammas and Fatah Recognize Israel-ish

According to two main AP stories circulating, an implicit agreement between Israel and Palestine has opened the door for long term negotiations.

The rival Hamas and Fatah movements agreed on a plan implicitly recognizing Israel, a top Palestinian official said Tuesday after weeks of acrimonious negotiations aiming to lift crippling international aid sanctions.

Moderate President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah has been trying to coax his Hamas rivals into endorsing the document, which calls for a Palestinian state alongside Israel, in effect recognizing the Jewish state. He has endorsed the plan as a way to end sanctions against the Hamas-led Palestinian government and pave the way to reopening peace talks with Israel.

This good news for Palestinians who have seen the assets frozen and funds cut off, and a strong development for long term peace talks.

The one major strike is while Palestinians want a state, their government will not simply say that Israel exists.

Baby steps though...