Mona Kandil
Press TV, Ramallah
In a show of unity, senior officials from Fatah and Hamas held a joint press conference that is the first of its kind in several years.
Jibril Rajoub Fatah Secretary General from Ramallah and Saleh al-Arouri Hamas deputy chief from Beirut vowed in a video conference to unite efforts in fighting Israel’s plan to annex parts of the occupied West bank including the Jordan valley.
Observers, meanwhile, have praised what they say could be a new phase stressing that reconciliation between the Palestinian factions is a necessary step in combating Israel’s annexation plan; however they say the real challenge is to translate these remarks into reality and strengthen the Palestinian position.
Hamas’ official has meanwhile praised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for refusing to make concessions to Israel. July 1 was set by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start annexation of parts of the West Bank but nothing happened. And Netanyahu’s office announced that he will continue to discuss the plan with the US administration.
At the end of the day, Israel is the joint enemy of both Fatah and Hamas. Experts say that politics might have sometimes divided Palestinians in the past, but when it comes to the real battle on the ground, they get united against their joint enemy.