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Counterproductive

Nov 12,2014 - Last updated at Nov 12,2014

It seems that the two mainstream Palestinian factions Fateh and Hamas are back to their old routine, and back at each other’s throat.

No sooner had the ink of their signatures on last month’s new reconciliation agreement dried up than skirmishes between them started.

Their relation reached a new low when Hamas leaders described a recent speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as full of lies and misrepresentations when he accused Hamas of setting fire to the houses of Fateh supporters in Gaza and of brewing trouble for the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

Repeated failure to bridge the gap between these two Palestinian movements appears to point to the fact that their differences are simply irreconcilable.

While Fateh and Hamas may agree on some objectives, particularly the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank with East Jerusalem as its capital, they are miles apart on tactics.

Hamas wants a return to the Intifada after having given up on holding peace talks with Israel. 

It also wishes to wield power in the West Bank.

Abbas has declared his opposition to yet another round of armed struggle against Israel, describing it as counterproductive, even under the current circumstances, which see Israel unyielding and overtly refusing to discuss peace with the Palestinians, let alone reaching it.

Palestinians would welcome differences of opinion among their leaders provided they are aired in a civil manner and are productive. The Fateh-Hamas squabbling is anything but.

The two Palestinian factions need to accept the fact that they are different, but commit to pursue their different ideology in a way that serves the Palestinian case.

If they are not willing to do so, there is no justification for their assertion of leadership.

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