Palestinian factions unite in protest against UAE-Israel deal
The Palestinian response to the normalization agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel is loud but its message is muddled amid divisions at home and in the region.
The Palestinian leadership has vocally opposed the recent UAE-Israel rapprochement, demanding a reversal of the decision or at a guarantee that no other Arab country will follow suit.
The Palestinians have called for urgent meetings of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, both of whom have unanimously and repeatedly supported the Saudi-headed Arab Peace Initiative. The UAE move to normalize relations before Israel commits to withdrawing from all Arab territories occupied in 1967 violates the most important clause in the plan.
The Palestinian leadership has reached out to its Islamic rivals, who agreed to coordinate public protest activities under the Palestinian flag. A meeting was scheduled for the evening of Aug. 18 at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, and the Hamas and Islamic Jihad leadership expressed willingness to discuss strategies to counter the UAE move.
A large public gathering has been planned for on Aug. 19 near the Palestinian village of Tormus Aya, and all Palestinian factions, including those that support the PLO as well as those that support the Islamist movements, have vowed to attend.
