Palestinian factions close ranks over Israel-UAE deal
Palestinian factions have staged a rare show of unity to underline their rejection of the US-backed normalisation deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirites.
Palestinian factions have staged a rare show of unity to underline their rejection of the US-backed normalisation deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirites.
“We cannot accept anyone speaking in our name. We have never allowed it, and we will not allow it, ever,” said President Mahmud Abbas at a meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah beamed live by videoconference to a parallel meeting held at the Palestinian embassy in Beirut.
“We will never accept the United States as the sole mediator for negotiations (with Israel), and we will not accept its plan” for a peace settlement, said Mr Abbas, calling for Palestinian “unity” in the face of Washington’s strategy.
The meeting was the first since 2013 bringing together Mr Abbas, head of the mainstream Fatah party and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, and Islamist Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh — albeit virtually, rather than in the same room.
Mr Haniyeh, whose rival movement controls the Gaza Strip, also called for a united front, via videoconference from Beirut.
“We must restore our national unity, put an end to division and establish a unified Palestinian position … to confront projects directed against our people,” the Hamas chief said.
Under a US initiative unveiled earlier this year, Israel would retain control of the disputed city of Jerusalem as its “undivided capital” and annex settlements and other areas in the occupied West Bank.
On August 13, US President Donald Trump announced an agreement between Israel and the UAE to normalise ties.
Under the US-brokered deal, the Jewish state has suspended, but not permanently dropped, annexation plans in the West Bank. The UAE became the third Arab country to agree to normalise ties with Israel, after Egypt signed a peace deal in 1979 and Jordan followed suit in 1994. The Palestinians have roundly condemned the accord as a “betrayal” by Abu Dhabi of the struggle to establish a state of their own.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week: “There are many more unpublicised meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders to normalise relations with the state of Israel.”
Israel’s national carrier El Al on Thursday announced a first cargo flight to Dubai, scheduled for September 16.
Unlike the first direct passenger flight on Monday, the cargo service will fly via Liege in Belgium before continuing to Dubai, El Al said, without explaining the roundabout route.
AFP
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