Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed on Sunday, or March 23 the "Sana'a Declaration" that includes their consent on the Yemeni-sponsored reconciliation and stipulates the resumption of dialogue bet6ween them to heal the internal rift. Despite their differences on a number of key issues, the signing of the declaration itself should be fully affirmed as it gives expression to the desire of both sides to seek unity.
The "Sana's Declration," based on a Yemeni plan to bring leaders from the two factions together, was signed by Azzam al-Ahmad of Fatah, and Mousa Abu Marzouk, deputy chief of Hamas' Damascus-based political bureau.
The signing of the "Sana'a Declaration" represents a positive response of both factions to appeals of the Palestinian people and the international community. The struggle between the two factions climaxed in June 2007, when Hamas took over the Gaza strip by force, driving out forces loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, whose government then only controlled the West Bank. Then, Abbas formed an interim government in the West Bank city of Ramallah, and the former national unity government continued to operate in Gaza.
Such a "lopsided" power setup is detrimental to both sides. Fatah lost Gaza, half of the territory and part of the confidence among general public as well, although it has received the support of the United States, the European Union (EU) and Israel with incessant inflows of ceaseless foreign aid. Hamas has been increasingly isolated due to a political encirclement and economic blockade imposed upon it. The contention between the two factions, however, has not only plunged the political arena of Palestine into an impasse but brought untold sufferings to ordinary Palestinians.
But when they came to recognize the gravity or seriousness of the situation, both Fatah and Hamas very much needed a pivotal opportunity or a "stage" to back down. In February this year, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh set forth a proposal, dubbed as the Yemeni proposal, to resolve the Fatah-Hamas rift or differences.
The Yemeni proposal for reconciliation, among other contents, is made up of the termination of the one-side control of Gaza, the holding of a general election ahead of time, the resumption of dialogues and the re-organization of the national unity government and the Palestinian security forces, and the proposal is of interest to both al Fatah and Hamas factions..
Nevertheless, the two factions have their own explanations for the "Sana'a Declaration". First, on the character of the declaration, Fatah regards it as an agreement for execution, whereas Hamas cites it merely as a framework for continued dialogue. With respect to the timing of the declaration, Fatach calls for a prompt implementation, while Hamas claims that it cannot be in place all at once and, on the scope of the declaration to cover, Fatah underscores that Gaza should return to what state it had been before it was seized in June last year, but Hamas rejects any precondition and stands for conducting dialogue on the overall situation in Palestine.
Various internal and external factors have determined that the "Sana's Declaration" cannot be rated as a plain sailing to be carried out smoothly and without a hitch. Some analysts note it evolves a possible risk for miscarriage. The declaration has been signed to close the rift, put an end to the state of division and work together to bring the daylight for their future. As Moussa Abu Marzouk, one of the top Hamas leaders, said: the unity is the only option of the Palestinian people, regarding the signing of the declaration as "an important step" toward unity (and peace).
By People's Daily Online and its author is Huang Peizhao, PD resident reporter in Egypt
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