Gaza -

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) briefed the Palestinian factions and forces in Gaza on the details of its new message to the Egyptian General Intelligence, which included its vision to achieve reconciliation and end the internal division that has persisted since mid-2007.

A leading source in a left-wing faction told Al-Jazeera Net that Hamas presented to the leaders of the forces during a meeting held in Gaza - last Thursday evening - its vision that it formulated in a letter it presented - a few days ago - to the Egyptian intelligence, and it included a number of items that it sees as a starting point for reviving the path reconciliation.

Positions were issued by leaders of the national and Islamic forces describing this vision as "positive", while no official position was issued by the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah).


vision details

  • In the first clause of the vision - which Al Jazeera Net obtained a copy of - Hamas calls for "the re-formation of the supreme national leadership of the (Palestinian) Liberation Organization, so that it includes all national forces, factions and personalities, through elections."


    If elections are not possible for one reason or another, Hamas suggests that "a national consensus is established to form a temporary national leadership for a specific period to be agreed upon, as a transitional stage to prepare the atmosphere for general political elections."

  • In the second item, Hamas said that "agreeing on the national strategy for this stage means agreement on the national political program, on which everyone agrees."

  • In the third item of its vision, Hamas called for "consensus on the mechanisms of national, field, political and other action." The elections agreed upon in their three legislative phases, the National Council and the Presidency. Hamas considered that these elections should be “in Jerusalem first, and let it be a battle of national and unified will in which we impose our right, and that this is our capital and we do not need permission from anyone to conduct our elections in it, and thus build all its national institutions on the basis of the free national popular will, and on the basis of partnership and national unity without Exclusion or acquisition.” And President Mahmoud Abbas decided, a few days before the date of the elections, which were scheduled for last May, to postpone them indefinitely, claiming that Israel did not agree to hold them in occupied Jerusalem.According to a national consensus - sponsored by Egypt - these elections would take place in 3 phases before the end of this year, starting with the Legislative Council elections, followed by presidential elections, and then elections for the National Council (Parliament of the Liberation Organization).

    * In the second option of the vision, Hamas calls for inviting “the leaders of the national factions to hold a meeting in Cairo, as stipulated in the 2011 agreement, to agree on a road map to achieve the desired goal, in their capacity as the temporary leadership framework (of the Liberation Organization), until the completion of building the Palestinian people’s national institutions. And at the heart of it is the Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.


    After holding him responsible for disrupting the reconciliation process with his unilateral decision to postpone the elections, Hamas expressed its hopes that President Abbas will have a sincere and serious intention to accomplish this "important and fateful" file.


road map

A member of the Hamas National Relations Department abroad, Ibrahim Al-Madhoun, told Al-Jazeera Net that Hamas, with this vision, renews its readiness and positive interaction with any serious path to achieve reconciliation, and its keenness to make the Egyptian role a success, which suffered a setback after Abu Mazen's decision to cancel the elections.

In its vision, according to Al-Madhoun, Hamas confirmed its firm position that the right path out of the current reality must begin with what he described as "reforming the head represented by the Liberation Organization."

He described Hamas' vision as a "road map" to get out of the impasse of division and reach real reconciliation.

Regarding the timing of this vision, Madhoun explained that "the movement's leadership discussed this matter with the Egyptian brothers during its recent visit to Cairo, and Hamas wants to push this path in a correct manner, with a vision acceptable nationally and regionally, and the Egyptian leadership understood the movement's position and vision."

"The vision found a positive response from the Palestinian forces and factions, and now we are waiting for the position of Abu Mazen and the Fatah movement, and if they are ready to embark on a real and serious path towards reconciliation and building national institutions, especially the National Council," he said.

Al-Madhoun stressed that the vision reflects Hamas' benefit from the experiences and failures of the past, and its keenness to "arrange the Palestinian house", in order to devote itself to facing challenges with a national consensus.


open tactic

And underestimated the political analyst - affiliated with the Fatah movement - Dr. Abdul Majeed Swailem, underestimated the value of this vision, and told Al Jazeera Net, "It did not bring anything new," describing it as "an open tactical discourse."

He added that Hamas has no readiness for a real review, which was revealed in its new document, which did not include any reference to abandoning its "unilateral rule of the Gaza Strip."

Swilam believes that this document on the part of Hamas is "a cover for other issues and developments related to the calm with Israel," and said that Hamas wants to conclude "the calm deal, and at the same time demonstrate its keenness on national unity." After being designated a terrorist organization in Britain.


Differing positions

Ibrahim Abrash - for Al Jazeera Net - said that the timing of Hamas's vision coincides with the failure of the political settlement, and Abu Mazen's repeated statements to retract the option of the two-state solution once and for all if Israel continues its intransigence, as well as coincides with the ongoing movement and efforts to search for a long truce agreement in Gaza, and Hamas, in this regard, "do not want any armistice agreement to be interpreted as abandoning the resistance."

Abrash agrees with Swilam that Hamas' vision cannot be read in terms of timing and content apart from the recent British decision to classify Hamas as a terrorist organization, and the positions of Arab capitals on the movement, all of which are developments that increase pressure on the movement.

According to Abrash, Hamas' vision did not carry anything new from its previous positions, as it still adheres to the start of rebuilding the PLO, and at the same time, its vision did not include any willingness or indications to relinquish its control over Gaza in favor of the authority in Ramallah, which is one of the movement's conditions. Open core.

Abrash believes that reconciliation is no longer a purely Palestinian file, and there are several parties that play a role in determining the path of reconciliation. He said, "Any upcoming reconciliation will be under American auspices and with Israeli approval."

Professor of Political Science, Dr. Hossam Al-Dajni, disagrees with his predecessors, Swilam and Abrash, and told Al-Jazeera Net that the vision proves that Hamas is still keen to achieve reconciliation through a serious path represented in holding elections.

He stressed that "this is the most appropriate time to achieve reconciliation and get out of the state of political wandering, in light of the decline of the national project, while Israel continues to expand."