The announcement of an agreement between Fatah, Hamas, and all the Palestinian parties, following discussions in Beirut, and then in Moscow, is an encouraging sign for the reestablishment of the PLO as representative of the voice of all Palestinians for the constitution of a national unity government, called upon by the whole of its people.
At Israel’s request, three of the signatory organizations (Hamas, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine) appear on the European list of terrorist organizations. This situation is a hypocritical one, given that the EU supervised the 2006 elections in which these organizations participated with the blessing of the international community. Today, it is high time to acknowledge their full inclusion in the Palestinian political landscape.
France has repeatedly declared its support for the process of Palestinian national unity; now, it must put these words into action. Contrary to its hostile reaction in 2014 to the EU tribunal’s decision to remove Hamas from the European list of terrorist organizations, France must demonstrate consistency and demand Hamas’ removal – as well as that of the other two aforementioned movements – from this list and unreservedly support national reconciliation efforts.
The destructive arrogance of the extreme right currently in power in Israel is emboldened by the imminent arrival of the new United States administration. In this context of grave threats to peace, all those with a sincere desire for a sustainable solution, a solution respectful of the rights of the Palestinian people, must support Palestinian efforts to speak again as one united voice.
The AFPS warmly salutes all Palestinians who are fighting to overcome divisions, which only serve to reinforce the colonial policy of the occupier.
The Executive Board of the AFPS