BEER SHEBA, Israel, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- The Quartet comprising the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations Wednesday expressed "hope" that the envisaged Palestinian national unity government would "reflect" principles the international community set for it earlier this year. This got some Israelis worried not so much for what the Quartet said but for what it omitted.
Up to now the Quartet insisted the Palestinian government cease terror and violence, recognize Israel, and abide by the agreements concluded with Israel.
The Hamas-led government has refrained from doing so and sanctions followed. Earlier this year the Quartet noted "with grave concern" that the Hamas-led government "has not committed to the principles," set for it and consequently refused to deal with it. Badly needed economic aid stopped flowing.
Now that Hamas is trying to form a national unity government with Fatah, the party that seeks an agreement with Israel, and the international community seemed to be softening its demands.
Wednesday's statement issued in New York followed consultations among U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the EU's representatives, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, the High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, its Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferero-Waldner, and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Israeli officials who analyzed the text concurred there was a change. "There are problems in it," one official told United Press International on condition he not be identified.
The announcement "is not strong enough," he said adding that other officials share that view.
It seems the government decided not to make an issue of it. The feeling in Jerusalem was that the United States compromised with the EU, Russia and the U.N. The initial American draft was stronger and the Americans have told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that only a government that accepts the Quartet's principles would be legitimized and receive economic aid. And it is the Americans who really count.
Moreover, the Fatah-Hamas coalition talks seemed deadlocked so the United States might have decided not to waste ammunition on "en egg that hasn't been laid," one source said.
Hence the prime minister's media adviser, Miri Eisin, told UPI: "The Quartet continues to talk about the three conditions and the Palestinian unity government has not yet been established. If and when it is established, then the Israeli government will take a position."
The Foreign Ministry's spokesman Mark Regev insisted that Wednesday's statement "maintains the principle" that the Palestinian government "must accept the (Quartet's) three benchmarks."
In fact the statement said: "The Quartet welcomed the efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to form a government of national unity, in the hope that the platform of such a government would reflect the 'Quartet's principles."
Ephraim Sneh who heads the Labor Party's Knesset faction -- Labor is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's main coalition partner -- told Israel Radio that if the Quartet would support a national unity government "before it accepts the Quartet's three conditions ... then this is a very worrying softening (of its stance)."
Likud, the main opposition party pounced on the development to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government. Olmert used to boast over the firm international support he had in refusing to deal with the Hamas-led government.
Thursday former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom termed the Quartet's announcement, "a real (Israeli) diplomatic collapse."
"It is very serious and Israel can only blame itself," Shalom said. Alluding to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's meeting with Abbas in New York and the expected Olmert-Abbas meeting, Shalom said that once Israel talks to the Palestinians -- while Hamas heads the government -- then, "The whole world will do the same. It is a green light to the world to talk to Hamas."
This is "the worst diplomatic collapse in recent years," said Likud Knesset Member Yuval Steinitz, who had headed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The government erred by letting Hamas run in the January elections, erred again by meeting Abu Mazen and its latest failure comes after "security mishap" exposed during the Lebanon War, he said.
The Likud's attack might re-enforce public criticism of the government. Public opinion polls already show that if elections were held now, Likud would win by far.
The results of a poll published Thursday in the Ha'aretz newspaper indicate that if elections were held now Likud would win 24 mandates (five more than it has now) and be the biggest faction. In other words, it would probably be asked to form a government. The right wing Israel Beitenu (Israel is Our Home) would have emerged second with 18 mandates and Olmert's Kadima only third with 16 mandates compared with 29 it has now.
Israeli doves however advocated talks with Hamas. The head of the Meretz Party, Yossi Beilin, said that if Hamas stops terror against Israel, it should get economic aid and if it recognizes Israel, Israel should recognize it.
