Now that a national unity government will be established in Palestine, Israel has stated it "will not deal with a government 'backed by Hamas,' even if the ministers themselves are not politically affiliated," according to The New York Times.

What would Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say if the new Palestinian government refused to deal with a Cabinet including Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, and leader of the right-wing HaBayit HaYehudi party Naftali Bennett? Does Israel dictate who represents the Palestinians? I think the national government of the Palestinian state will now refuse such dictates because it is ready for negotiations.

According to The New York Times, the formation of a Palestinian government "has disrupted any prospect of a resumption of American-brokered peace talks" since Israel will not deal with a Hamas-backed government. Well, that is for the United States to decide.

Israel openly states that it will cease "negotiations," as if there were ever negotiations. Perhaps this is a blessing, this threat by Israel to stop what did not exist. Perhaps it is time for the new government under Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to get occupied Palestine out of the trap of peace processes and road maps, which, with their evident flaws, brought about the continued proliferation of illegal settlements and the creeping annexation of East Jerusalem.