In a gesture that’s as important as the location it took place, the two Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah met in the city of Beijing, the capitol of the Chinese Communist Party’s empire, forming an historic peace through a declaration on “ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity.”
The gesture puts Fatah in the elevated crosshairs in its rule in the West Bank, the former heart of Judah and Samaria. It also puts China in the power broker role in the Middle East, shifting more influence away from the U.S. and Western allies.
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Excerpt from apnews.com
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah signed a declaration in Beijing on ending a yearslong rift, the groups said Tuesday, taking a step toward resolving a deep divide which has lingered for years despite repeated attempts at unifying the sides.
The two heavyweights of Palestinian politics signed the Beijing Declaration on “ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, pledging to form a unity government for the Palestinian territories. But previous such declarations have failed, including a similar deal in 2011, casting doubt over whether the China-sponsored negotiations might actually lead to a resolution.
The declaration comes at a sensitive time, as the war in Gaza rages on into its 10th month and as Israel and Hamas are weighing an internationally backed cease-fire proposal that would wind down the war and free dozens of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
