English translation of the full-text of the agreement between Fatah and Hamas, signed today in Cairo, is available at Al Mubadara’s Palestine Monitor. Israel responds with conniptions (or pretends them) and blocks funds to the PA, while calls for an end to division might be seen to be partially answered. Yet, for all that, Ali Abunimeh’s analysis at Electronic Intifada is right on the money.
“What is also noticeably absent here are specifics. There are a lot of commitments to solve problems, but very few actual solutions. My main criticism stands. Hamas and Fatah seem concerned about running the Oslo Authority and offer absolutely nothing – in this agreement or beyond it – as a program or vision for Palestinian liberation that united, includes and mobilizes all Palestinians. There is no mention of Palestinian rights, especially refugees, no mention of supporting popular struggle on the ground or BDS internationally, no mention of the situation of the Palestinian people as an occupied people struggling for freedom. For a long time Fatah has pretended it is running an actual state while in reality Israel dominates every aspect of Palestinian life. It now seems that Hamas are ready to join Fatah in that pretense. “Reconciliation” indeed! Fatah and Hamas may aspire to run the West Bank and Gaza “municipality” together, but we should not confuse that with deep reconciliation around a vision for the Palestinian people as a whole, and a strategy to reach it. That vision, alas, can’t be left up to them.”
