The Palestinian national unity agreement, brokered last week in Mecca by Saudi Arabia, for once had the Islamists of Hamas and nationalists of Fatah firing in the air in celebration rather than at each other. The factional warfare that was sinking an embattled Gaza into a pit of anarchy may just be over. But there will still not be much to celebrate unless the deal can unlock the door to resumed peace talks.

For that to happen, Israel and the US, as well as the Palestinian coalition arising from the accord, must be prepared to interpret it flexibly. That assumes they are prepared genuinely to work for a peace offering security and recognition to Israel and justice and a viable state to the Palestinians.