Op-Ed video: Can new Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar achieve Palestinian unity?
New Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who heads the movement following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, will continue to seek common ground with the Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders but will likely fail, says Sami Al-Arian, the director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) at Istanbul Zaim University.
After several failed attempts at reconciliation, many observers are now contemplating the unique role Sinwar may play in achieving unity among the Palestinian factions.
For years, Hamas and other anti-Oslo groups had advocated for a united Palestinian strategy centred on resistance and for the termination of the flawed accords in order to challenge Israel's belligerent policies.
However, Abbas and Fatah rejected those calls to change course, insisting on pursuing a negotiations-only strategy that is stale, futile, and comes at the expense of Palestinian rights, Al-Arian said.
Given the insurmountable differences in political strategy and approach within the Palestinian organisations - let alone the role Fatah-supported PA has played in Gaza's economic and political collapse - such attempts will most likely fail, Al-Arian asked.
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Despite his [Sinwar's] amiable personality and proclivity to unite various Palestinian factions around a common enemy, will he be willing to agree to Abbas's conditions in light of the earthquake unleashed by Al-Aqsa Flood? It is very unlikely.
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