A Strip of Light

Small successes are rare but always welcome in the Middle East and BBC journalist Alan Johnston's release today is certainly a minor one creating a chink of light within the dark cloud over the region. After 114 days, successful negotiations between his captors (the previously unheard of Army of Islam) and Hamas have not only set free Johnston, but have presented an opportunity for the international community to engage with the Islamist group.

First lets bring in a little bit of perspective. Despite the obvious peril and threats made to Johnston, this was not in the same desperate league as the kidnappings in Iraq. Journalists know the risks and attractions to kidnappers of western journalists, a handful had been kidnapped in Gaza over the last two years. Also, hundreds of Palestinians are detained without trial in Israel and IDF soldier Gilad Schalit remains a hostage as do two soldiers in Lebanon. Clearly those detained illegitimately lack the potential publicity a BBC journalist can drum up. In humanitarian terms, this is a more pressing issue. The release of Johnston always lay in the fractious power struggles within Gaza, rather than Islamists continuous conflict with the West. The demands to release Abu Qatada and others always seemed a red herring (or is that green).

Johnston will lie low for a while with a less risky assignment, the focus has shifted now to Hamas. Since their seizure of power two weeks ago, the group have tightened the pressure on the Dagmush clan. Releasing Johnston was Hamas' first priority and their first true test. Hamas has had slim positive PR since coming to prominence in the 2nd intifada. Their pretensions to being a moderate resistance organisation with legitimate authority and effective governance over Gaza and eventual the whole of Palestine have not been harmed. Israel's politicians have immediately contrasted this act with the year plus custody of Schalit. Whereas Hamas clearly did not hold Johnston, so were able to gain good publicity. They (or more specifically the military wing) are widely assumed to hold Schalit, and any peace negotiation with Israel will start there. Hamas would have more to gain from any deal than Israel in a prisoner swap, which makes any negotiation a long way off.

New Foreign Secretary David Milliband hinted at deepening contacts and trust. Britain might have strengthened its relations (or influence) as a result of this episode, but it is still way short of negotiating with the United States and Israel. The irreconciable differences between Hamas and Israel will be the last possible stage of any peace process. The first step is the settling of bitter differences with Fatah and a national unity government across the whole occupied territories. But Israeli strategists will not deviate from dire predictions of Hamas' long term objectives - the destruction of Israel. Whilst Hamas might reform itself and gain international recognition, Israel will base its see the Islamist group as an existential threat first and foremost.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages//877955.html