MUNICH: Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Sunday announced that Russia has invited Palestinian factions for a reconciliation meeting in Moscow on February 26. During the Munich Security Conference, Shtayyeh expressed the readiness of the administration in the West Bank to engage with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in pursuit of Palestinian unity.
“We are ready to engage. If Hamas is not, then that’s a different story. We need Palestinian unity,” stated Shtayyeh, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation among Palestinian factions.
The Palestinian Authority, established under the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, has faced challenges to its legitimacy amid ongoing Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. Meanwhile, Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip for 17 years, leading to a fragmented Palestinian political landscape.
Western and Arab states have emphasized the need for a unified Palestinian leadership, with hopes of integrating Gaza under the administration of the Palestinian Authority once the conflict is resolved.
“Palestine is ready. We have the institutions, and capabilities, but our serious problem is we are under occupation,” remarked Shtayyeh, underscoring the enduring challenge of Israeli occupation and the necessity for its cessation.
Unity Among Palestinian Factions
Shtayyeh clarified that Palestinian resistance group’s participation in broader Palestinian political structures, such as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), would necessitate adherence to certain prerequisites, including acceptance of the PLO’s political platform and a commitment to peaceful means of resistance.
While Hamas has welcomed Russia’s reconciliation efforts, the longstanding power disputes between Palestinian factions remain unresolved. Efforts to integrate Hamas and smaller factions like Islamic Jihad into the PLO have faced obstacles due to differing political ideologies and stances on peace accords with Israel.
Shtayyeh reiterated the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, emphasizing the need for unity among Palestinians to advance their national aspirations.
