PA does not want reconciliation and unity, claims academic

A professor of political science said on Monday that the Palestinian Authority is not interested in national unity and reconciliation with Hamas, Quds Press has reported. Abdul-Sattar Qasim teaches at Al-Najah University in the West Bank city of Nablus; he made his comments following news that Saudi Arabia is mediating in the reconciliation process between the Fatah (which controls the PA) and the Islamic Resistance Movement.

“The PA cannot ignore the Saudi mediation, but it can abort it,” he said. “The reason is that the PA is in need of Saudi money.” Reconciliation and national unity, Prof. Qasim noted, will affect the interests of PA executives. “This is the main reason why the PA is not willing to reform the PLO, pay the salaries of Gaza employees or hold elections.”

Qasim accused the authority of not respecting its pledges. “In addition, reconciliation with Hamas would damage the relationship between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel,” he explained. “This will never happen because Abbas wants the Palestinians to remain under Israeli control as well as under the control of the PA executives.”

Meanwhile, he suggested that Saudi Arabia is not really interested in the PA because it does not have real popularity on the ground. “Saudi Arabia seeks to attract Hamas to its side because of its popularity; Riyadh is interested in bringing part of the Arabic resistance over to its side.”

In conclusion, the well-known academic pointed out that Hamas would be affected negatively because Saudi Arabia is not very popular among the Palestinians.