Beware the Egyptian reconciliation overtures

The renewal of reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas are set to become synonymous with Egypt, highlighting a trend that has characterised the two-state negotiations. The Times of Israel has reported that as part of the country’s alleged commitment to that compromise, Egypt will be working to renew the moribund process between the two major Palestinian factions. The Palestinians have every reason to be wary of such overtures.

According to foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdel Atty, “As far as [Egypt is] concerned, Palestine is the main issue in the area, and we need to do everything to establish an independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem.” In other words, Egypt, like the rest of the international community, remains transfixed upon the notion of fragmenting Palestine further to suit Israeli interests.

“Without reconciliation,” said the Egyptian official, “Palestinian society is divided and the Palestinian principles are not united. We need to apply pressure and to have meetings so that the Palestinian front will be united and strong on the way to talks with the Israelis.”

Devoid of any premise that incorporates anti-colonial struggle and liberation, reconciliation talks have produced a string of failures and diminishing autonomy. The talks that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian unity government were the first step towards the current decline with severe consequences for the Gaza Strip and Hamas, the identity of which as a resistance movement is becoming increasingly hampered by external interference resulting in marginalisation.

The persistent manipulation with regard to reconciliation and negotiations – the latter is set to be put onto the Arab League agenda at Egypt’s insistence – sustains Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intention to colonise yet more Palestinian territory, even while talks are taking place. Past experience makes this clear.

If Hamas hopes for any possible gains should the talks proceed, the regular phenomenon of the Palestinians always obtaining less in return for relinquishing more is set to repeat itself. Under Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi’s rule, Hamas has been targeted through legal channels as well as logistically; Egypt has collaborated with Israel’s siege by destroying the tunnel network and creating a buffer zone along the Gaza border that has displaced thousands of people. With Gaza having been rendered almost uninhabitable due to Israel’s “Operation Protective Edge” offensive last year, as well as the bureaucracy which deliberately impedes reconstruction, Egypt’s intention is to minimise Hamas’s authority and manipulate its identity in a manner that portrays its resistance to the Palestinian Authority and Israel’s overtures as jarring with the aspirations of ordinary Palestinians.

All rhetoric regarding the renewal of negotiations is merely an exercise in strengthening the hegemonic narrative, within which Egypt is participating more and more. While the international community increasingly asserts the necessity of a reconciliation agreement to promote unity, approaching the concept within such a philosophy of usurpation has been to the detriment of both Palestinians and Hamas. As reconciliation and negotiations are based upon the premise of appealing to Israel and its allies, the abandonment of resistance against colonisation will remain one of the preconditions with which Hamas will have to come to terms. Constructively, the resistance movement should consider remaining loyal to its charter and values as its priority, rather than abandoning its very essence and definition for a semblance of concessionary gestures at the cost of annihilating its autonomy.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.