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Ammon News - Leaders of the Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, signed Tuesday a joint statement in Beijing aimed at ending divisions and building unity between the bitter rivals, a deal that helps China bolster its claim to being a global mediator but is unlikely to heal the deep rift between the Palestinian political factions.

Chinese state media said the “Beijing declaration”— which it hailed as a breakthrough and a sign of China’s emerging role as a peace broker in faraway conflicts — was signed by representatives of 14 Palestinian factions.

Photos from the talks showed those present included Mahmoud al-Aloul, vice chairman of the central committee of Fatah, and Moussa Abu Marzouk, a senior member of Hamas. Wang said that ambassadors from Egypt, Russia and Algeria also attended the meetings.

Wang called the meeting a “historic moment for the cause of Palestine’s liberation” and highlighted the “consensus around establishing an interim national reconciliation government to manage Gaza after the war,” in a speech after talks had ended.

Wang restated China’s support for a “comprehensive, lasing and sustainable cease-fire” and for the convening of a large “international peace conference” to work toward a two-state solution.

A key aspect of the larger debate over how to end the grueling nine months of fighting in the Gaza Strip is how the enclave will be governed afterward, whether through continued Israeli occupation or some form of Palestinian control — though the Israeli government has rejected any proposal featuring Hamas or the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority.

The statement calls for the formation of a Palestinian unity government overseeing the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip and eventually holding elections, for which the leaders of the factions will meet and draw up a road map.

An earlier attempt by Beijing to broker talks between Hamas and Fatah in April concluded without a joint statement.

Washington Post