Palestinian factions have agreed to end their divisions and strengthen unity by signing the Beijing Declaration. The historic declaration was signed during the closing ceremony of a reconciliation summit in Beijing on July 23.
The declaration represents a critical turning point. With this statement, the Chinese mainland has reaffirmed its commitment to bringing an end to the 17-year political division between Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, and Fatah, which controls the Palestinian Authority and administers pockets of the West Bank. Fourteen Palestinian factions attended the summit, with the Chinese mainland's Foreign Minister Wang Yi present.
Diplomatic Milestone
The Beijing Declaration seeks to put an end to the protracted political divisions that have afflicted the Palestinian government ever since Hamas won an election in 2006 and gained control of the Gaza Strip. The divisions hampered any unified Palestinian response to numerous political, social, and economic issues. All Palestinian groups are now committing to a cooperative approach to administration, which is a crucial first step toward establishing a unity government in the Palestinian territories.
A unity government could result in a more structured and effective strategy for addressing both internal and external issues. In the absence of unity, Palestinian factions cannot meet the growing socioeconomic needs of their people, much less present a united front in peace talks with Israel.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
