2022 Palestinian reconciliation agreement explained

2022 Palestinian reconciliation agreement
Context:Fatah-Hamas conflict
Location Signed:Algiers, Algeria
Mediators:Algeria
Parties:
  • Hamas
  • Fatah
  • 12 other Palestinian factions
Language:Arabic

The 2022 Palestinian reconciliation agreement, officially the Algerian document for Palestinian reconciliation (Arabic: الورقة الجزائرية للمصالحة الفلسطينية) and referred to by the Algiers declaration (Arabic: إعلان الجزائر) in Arab media, is an agreement signed by 14 different Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, as part of the reconciliation process between the two factions in a conflict that started in the aftermath of the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections and included the 2007 Hamas takeover of Gaza. Months of talks leading to the deal were conducted in Algeria in preparation for the first Arab League summit since the COVID pandemic.[1]

The agreement included provisions to hold presidential and parliamentary elections within a year of its signing. However, no new Palestinian elections were held throughout 2023, owing in part to Israeli opposition to allow voting in East Jerusalem.[2] Just as the deadline was nearing the Israel–Hamas war was started, rendering the deal ineffectual.[3]

Background

Fatah and Hamas

Fatah and Hamas are currently the two largest of the Palestinian factions. Founded in 1969, Fatah is the leading member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), which is an umbrella organization consisting of several movements.[4] [5] It takes a moderate stance on the conflict with Israel, favoring a two-state solution where the Palestinian state would be built on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.[6]

Hamas, on the other hand, is a Sunni Islamist movement founded in 1987, that advocates for the destruction of Israel. It is, in whole or in part, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States.[7] [8] However, in recent years Hamas has accepted a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza as a temporary solution to the conflict.[9] [10]

Fatah-Hamas conflict

See main article: articles and Fatah–Hamas conflict.

Elections and Battle of Gaza

See main article: articles, 2006 Palestinian legislative election and Battle of Gaza (2007).

The Fatah–Hamas conflict started in the aftermath of the legislative elections of 2006, in which Hamas participated, winning 74 out of 132 seats.[11] Fatah refused to cooperate with the Hamas government, led by Ismail Haniyeh.[12] Tensions boiled on 10 June 2007, when armed clashes between Fatah and Hamas forces erupted in the Gaza strip.[13] [14] By 15 June, the Gaza strip was, in its entirety, under the control of Hamas militants.[15]

Reconciliation talks and previous agreements

See main article: articles and Fatah-Hamas reconciliation process.

Prior to 2022, there have been several attempts at reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, with Egypt and Qatar serving as mediators. A number of agreements have been reached and implemented to various degrees, such as the Sana'a Declaration in 2008, the Fatah–Hamas Doha Agreement in 2012, the Gaza and Cairo agreements in 2014, the 2020 agreement as well as three agreements held in Cairo – in 2011, 2012 and 2017.[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] After the last one Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas postponed elections without setting a new date, reportedly due to fear the Israeli government will not allow voting in East Jerusalem.[23]

Negotiations

In January 2022, Hamas announced that a delegation headed by Ismail Haniyeh would be going to Algeria for "Palestinian unity talks," after receiving an invitation from the Algerian ambassador in Qatar, where Haniyeh is based.[24]

In July 2022, Mahmoud Abbas, leader of Fatah and President of the Palestinian National Authority, held a public meeting with Haniyeh for the first time in more than five years in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. Hamas hailed the "historic" meeting.[25] [26]

In September 2022, it was reported that delegations from Fatah and Hamas have headed to Algeria to conduct of talks on reconciliation.[27]

Agreement

A number of media outlets in the Arab world have released the text of the agreement, which was officially signed at a ceremony on 13 October 2022 in Algiers.[28] [29] The agreement included the following provisions:

The agreement was signed by 14 Palestinian factions.[30]

Reactions

Azzam al-Ahmad, the head of Fatah's delegation to Algiers, said that the factions "signed this agreement to get rid of the malignant cancer of division that has entered the Palestinian body," and expressed his movement's optimism "that the agreement is implemented and will not remain ink on paper."[31] [32]

Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, said, "It is a day of joy in Palestine and Algeria and for those who love the Palestinian cause, but a day of sadness for the Zionist entity."[33]

Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the President of Algeria, attended the signing ceremony, hailing the agreement and saying that the Palestinian state "went through setbacks, problems and conspiracies, but today, Alhamdulillah, we witness a historic day."[34]

Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initialtive, told the CNN that "it was agreed to elect the Palestinian National Council at home and abroad, using a proportional representation system with the participation of all Palestinian factions, within a maximum period of one year from the date of signing the declaration."[35]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Palestinian factions sign reconcil agreement in Algeria Palestinian Authority News Al Jazeera . Al Jazeera. 13 October 2022. 3 February 2023.
  2. https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-fatah-meet-in-egypt-in-attempt-to-broker-reconciliation/ At Egypt summit with Fatah, Hamas chief calls to exploit Israeli ‘internal divisions’
  3. News: Netanyahu says IDF will control Gaza after war, rejects notion of international force . . live . 13 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231112163219/https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-says-idf-will-control-gaza-after-war-rejects-notion-of-international-force/ . 12 November 2023.
  4. Web site: Just Vision . 2022-10-16 . justvision.org . en . 2021-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210526033155/https://justvision.org/glossary/fatah . live .
  5. Web site: Tahhan . Zena Al . Hamas vs Fatah: Same goal, different approaches . 2022-10-16 . www.aljazeera.com . en . 2022-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221014160212/https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2017/10/12/hamas-and-fatah-how-are-the-two-groups-different . live .
  6. Web site: Ahmed . Kaamil . 2017-03-20 . Two-state solution 'only game in town': Fatah leader . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211202093150/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/two-state-solution-only-game-in-town-fatah-leader/775705 . 2021-12-02 . 2022-10-16 . Anadolu Agency.
  7. Web site: Laub . Zachary . Robinson . Kali . August 17, 2021 . What Is Hamas? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012162713/https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-hamas . 2022-10-12 . 2022-10-16 . Council on Foreign Relations . en.
  8. News: 1 July 2021 . Hamas: The Palestinian militant group that rules Gaza . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-10-16 . 2018-01-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180124212053/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13331522 . live .
  9. Web site: الهدف . بوابة . 20 July 2019 . هنية: لا نعارض دولة على حدود 67 . 2022-10-16 . بوابة الهدف الإخبارية . ar . 2021-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422234518/https://hadfnews.ps/post/57466/%D9%87%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AF-67 . live .
  10. Web site: أبرز ما جاء في لقاء إسماعيل هنية مع علي الظفيري على شاشة قناة الجزيرة الفضائية . 2022-10-16 . gazaalan.net . ar.
  11. Book: Central Elections Commission (CEC) . 2022-10-16 . 2008-10-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081029054121/http://www.elections.ps/pdf/Final_Results_PLC_Summary_Lists_Seats_2_En.pdf . bot: unknown .
  12. News: 2007-06-20 . TIMELINE: Key events since 2006 Hamas election victory . en . Reuters . live . 2023-04-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150930111252/http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/06/20/us-palestinians-timeline-idUSL1752364420070620 . 30 September 2015.
  13. Web site: Only the dead enter Gaza; Al Mezan calls for immediate opening of the Rafah Crossing – occupied Palestinian territory . 2022-10-16 . ReliefWeb . 25 July 2007 . en.
  14. News: 12 June 2007 . Hamas launches new Gaza attacks . en-GB . BBC . live . 2022-10-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220503075121/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6744713.stm . 2022-05-03.
  15. Web site: Urquart . Conal . Black . Ian . Tran . Mark . 15 June 2007 . Hamas takes control of Gaza . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221008040330/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jun/15/israel4 . 2022-10-08 . 2022-10-16 . the Guardian . en.
  16. News: Sudam . Mohamed . 23 March 2008 . Fatah and Hamas sign reconciliation deal . en . Reuters . live . 2022-10-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220401114637/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-palestinians-yemen-deal-idUKL23831120080323 . 2022-04-01.
  17. Web site: 27 April 2011 . Hamas and Fatah agree to form caretaker government . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210226193129/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/27/hamas-fatah-agree-government-deal . 2021-02-26 . 2022-10-16 . the Guardian . en.
  18. Web site: 19 February 2012 . New Palestinian government will respect PLO accords, Abbas says . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120219171417/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/19/195567.html . 2012-02-19 . 2022-10-16.
  19. News: Rudoren . Jodi . Akram . Fares . 20 May 2012 . Palestinians Sign Deal to Set Up Elections . The New York Times . en . live . 2022-10-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526190920/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/world/middleeast/hamas-and-fatah-agree-in-cairo-to-begin-work-on-elections.html . 2018-05-26.
  20. Web site: Toameh . Khaled Abu . 25 September 2014 . Text of Fatah-Hamas agreement . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171203174644/http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Text-of-Fatah-Hamas-agreement-376350 . 2017-12-03 . 2022-10-16 . The Jerusalem Post . en-US.
  21. News: 12 October 2017 . Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah end split on Gaza . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-10-16 . 2019-03-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190322055326/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41591450 . live .
  22. Web site: Boxerman . Aaron . Fatah, Hamas say they've agreed to hold Palestinian elections in coming months . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210809075625/https://www.timesofisrael.com/fatah-hamas-say-theyve-agreed-to-hold-palestinian-elections-in-coming-months/ . 2021-08-09 . 2022-10-16 . Times of Israel . en-US.
  23. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56929547 Palestinian elections: Abbas postpones rare polls
  24. Web site: 15 January 2022 . Hamas delegation to head to Algeria for Palestinian unity talks . 2022-10-16 . Hamas . ar . 2022-01-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220115135819/https://hamas.ps/en/post/3870/Hamas-delegation-to-head-to-Algeria-for-Palestinian-unity-talks . live .
  25. Web site: Palestinian president, Hamas chief hold rare public meeting . 2022-10-16 . AW . en.
  26. Web site: Palestinian rivals Abbas, Haniyeh shake hands in Algeria – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East . 2022-10-16 . www.al-monitor.com . 8 July 2022 . en . 2022-08-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220807202128/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/07/palestinian-rivals-abbas-haniyeh-shake-hands-algeria . live .
  27. Web site: 20 September 2022 . Fatah, Hamas head to Algeria to discuss Palestinian reconciliation . 2022-10-16 . Middle East Monitor . en-GB . 2022-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220927094923/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220920-fatah-hamas-head-to-algeria-to-discuss-palestinian-reconciliation/ . live .
  28. Web site: الأناضول تنشر نص "إعلان الجزائر" للمصالحة الفلسطينية . 2022-10-16 . www.aa.com.tr . 2022-10-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221013173138/https://www.aa.com.tr/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%B5-%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9/2710793 . live .
  29. Web site: للأنباء . وكالة قدس برس إنترناشيونال . نص . 2022-10-16 . وكالة قدس برس إنترناشيونال للأنباء . en . 2022-10-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221013151958/https://www.qudspress.com/index.php?page=show&id=83291 . live .
  30. Web site: Palestinian factions sign reconciliation agreement in Algeria . 2022-10-16 . www.aljazeera.com . en . 2022-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221014101228/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/13/palestinian-factions-sign-reconciliation-agreement-in-algeria . live .
  31. Web site: 13 October 2022 . Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah sign reconciliation deal in Algiers . 2022-10-16 . France 24 . en . 2022-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221014213020/https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20221013-palestinian-rivals-hamas-and-fatah-sign-reconciliation-deal-in-algiers . live .
  32. Web site: Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah sign reconciliation deal in Algiers . 2022-10-16 . WION . en . 2022-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221014090018/https://www.wionews.com/world/palestinian-rivals-hamas-and-fatah-sign-reconciliation-deal-in-algiers-525350 . live .
  33. Web site: 13 October 2022 . Palestinian factions sign reconciliation deal in Algiers . 2022-10-16 . Al Arabiya English . en . 2022-10-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221013192008/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/10/13/Palestinian-factions-sign-reconciliation-deal-in-Algiers . live .
  34. Web site: شاوش . أمين . 13 October 2022 . الرئيس تبون: التوقيع على "إعلان الجزائر" بين الفصائل الفلسطينية يوم تاريخي . 2022-10-16 . الشروق أونلاين . ar-DZ . 2022-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221014225144/https://www.echoroukonline.com/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b1%d8%a6%d9%8a%d8%b3-%d8%aa%d8%a8%d9%88%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d9%88%d9%82%d9%8a%d8%b9-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%a5%d8%b9%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ac%d8%b2%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%b1 . live .
  35. Web site: Dahman . Abeer Salman,Ibrahim . 13 October 2022 . Leading Palestinian factions sign reconciliation deal, aiming to pave way to elections . 2022-10-16 . CNN . en . 2022-10-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221015112036/https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/13/middleeast/palestinian-deal-hamas-fatah-intl/index.html . live .

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