The announcement of a partial agreement reached between Fatah and Hamas over governing Gaza Thursday must be welcomed, but with some natural caution.
Unity between the Palestinians is of utmost importance. When something scares Israel that much, it can be presumed it is simultaneously positive for the peace process, and for the Palestinian people.
And this latest deal appears to have been catalyzed by the latest Israeli war on Gaza, which killed thousands of civilians. The previously warring Palestinian sides recognize that their working together is in the best interests of the Palestinian people, that it is harder for the world to wash their hands of Palestine when its parties and people are ready to work together.
But it is not enough for Hamas and Fatah to declare a unity deal. Apart from its omissions – the not inconsequential issues of wages for Hamas employees in Gaza and control over the Strip’s security forces – any internal agreement still requires external help and support.
International and Arab communities must honor their overdue financial commitments, but the Palestinians also need diplomatic support on the world stage. Those who have long claimed to be a friend of the Palestinians must stand up for it in global talks, and help it achieve statehood. After decades of being marginalized and ignored, Palestine deserves a chance at freedom and statehood for its people. At the same time, foreign countries must stop being afraid to stand up to the arrogance of Israel, and its land-grabbing ways, which are eating away at any Palestinian state.
But while Palestinians need this external support, they must also rid themselves of patrons who are only concerned with their own priorities, and not those of the Palestinians.
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