Can Peace Take Hold in Gaza?

How can Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas be our partner for peace if he doesn’t control Gaza and Hamas is so powerful? This is the question that most people ask me every time I assert that peace is possible and that an agreement is within reach. What is the purpose of reaching an agreement with Abbas only regarding the West Bank – are we now talking about three-states for two peoples? I believe that we must reach an agreement with Abbas regarding all of the core issues – statehood, borders, security, Jerusalem, refugees, water, economics, etc. The agreement will state that the West Bank and Gaza are one integral territorial unit, just as stipulated in the Interim Agreement from September 1995. The permanent status agreement will indicate that the agreement for the establishment of the state of Palestine recognizes Gaza as part of the state, but it will also stipulate that the implementation of the agreement with regard to the Strip will only take place when there is a regime change that allows for the unification of the two territories under one government which recognizes all of its obligations under the peace treaty.