Palestinian Reconciliation on Hold Again

Palestinian leaders in Hamas and Fatah have only drawn attention to their inability to make their reconciliation happen by insisting once again that unity is imminent.

It will be interesting to see how these factions can square the circle of claiming to their constituency that they will never give up the armed struggle or one square inch of "Palestine", while boasting the opposite to the international community in hopes of more cash.

Even more interesting will be Palestinian elections, if they ever happen (they've already been delayed several years and neither Fatah nor Hamas have a renewed democratic mandate). Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas says "we discussed all the details about reconciliation and would like to tell you that there are no differences between us at all on any of the issues" -- in which case, how are Palestinians supposed to vote?

Let's see: I can vote for the corrupt terrorist-spawning party that kidnaps and tortures dissidents. Or, I could vote for the corrupt terrorist-spawning party that kidnaps and tortures dissidents. Wow. This democracy thing is really tough.