Senior Palestinian leader Maj. Gen. Jibril Rajoub told Al-Monitor on Nov. 13 that the Fatah Central Committee and other factions are opposed to turning the current uprising into a military one. “There is a decision by all Palestinian factions not to militarize the popular struggle. We want to send a civilized message to the world that military occupation and colonial settlement is the real terrorism and that its continuation is a danger to them as well,” Rajoub said.

The leading member of the Fatah Central Committee and a possible successor to Mahmoud Abbas, 81, praised imprisoned leader Marwan Barghouti, but stopped short of endorsing him for a senior position while in jail. “Marwan is a great Fatah leader and, along with him, there are many other leaders and fellow legislators in prison. I don’t think this is a priority issue on our agenda,” he said.

Rajoub spoke powerfully about the need for unity among Palestinians and blamed Hamas for the delay in implementing the reconciliation agreement. “I tell you in the name of Fatah that we are genuinely in favor of doing everything possible to form a national unity [government] with Hamas. Our goal is to reach a strategic agreement on the basis of any future peace agreement,” he told Al-Monitor.

The senior Fatah official sounded very upset with the recent talk coming out of the White House, according to which it is unlikely that the two-state solution will see the light during the 14 months remaining in US President Barack Obama’s term. “We will not raise the white flag because the Americans have lost interest. The decision in Washington will lead to more oppression. Peace is in the overall interest of the US and international community,” Rajoub said.