Al-Liqa’ Center for Religious and Heritage Studies in the Holy Land, Jerusalem/Bethlehem held a panel which was attended by large number of clerics and lay people including academicians from the Bethlehem and Hebron Governorates. The panel was titled “The impact of reconciliation on the Palestinian Problem” and included participants Brig. ‘Uthman Abu Gharbiyyeh and Mr. Muhammad Barakeh. Prof. Thiab Ayyoush moderated the panel.
Brig. Abu Gharbiyyeh believes that steps taken by both sides (Hamas and Fateh) are necessary toward achieving reconciliation and we need to build on it further and to be aware of possible undoing of this reconciliation.
We need to study everything carefully in order for the reconciliation process to continue. Israel does not like this Palestinian reconciliation since this latter process will only serve the welfare of the Palestinian people and Israel will pressure with all its means to stop this reconciliation.
Barakeh pointed out that the Israeli position toward reconciliation does not change. One of the Ministers in Netanyahu’s cabinet said: “Why all this noise about reconciliation. If Palestinians are divided we will say that we won’t negotiate with them and if Palestinians are united, we would say that we won’t negotiate with them since Hamas is part of this reconciliation.”
He added that Israel is the only country in the world that occupies both land and people. Israel is the only country with two separate political/economic/social systems and Israel practices apartheid as a result.
Prof. Ayyoush on his part, as moderator, stressed national unity because without it, no one will be victorious. He added that reconciliation had met with much success even though many appose it. There were as well questions and answers session. Both panel members were able to answer questions candidly.
