Many a knotty issue awaiting unravelling in Mid-East peace plan

Besides the White House trumpeting the latest Middle East peace plan as an outstanding success, quite a few prominent states of the West and the Middle East are on record as having responded positively to it.

- BY LYNN OCKERSZ

However, Hamas is yet to lend the plan its unqualified support and it is the latter's 'yes' that would prove crucial.

Importantly, in terms of the plan, Hamas needs to agree to lay down arms and declare that it would not figure in Gaza's future governance, directly or indirectly, to enable some progress to be made in the peace process. At the time of writing such developments are yet to come to pass although talks are ongoing.

From this point of view, condition 13 in the '20 point peace plan' emerges as critical. Basically, this point envisages a total dismantling of Hamas' military capability and calls for the destruction of 'all military, terror and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities' possessed by the militant outfit. Considering that Hamas would be at the mercy of its foes if this condition is complied with, it is difficult to see Hamas agreeing to it easily.

It follows that in case the peace plan is accepted by all concerned Hamas' future security would need to be guaranteed by the US in particular. However, President Trump is in a big hurry to see the plan through and he is unlikely to patiently bear with Hamas indefinitely. Thus, the world is continuing to be kept guessing as to what would befall the Middle East, going forward.