Palestinian Authority, Hamas divided on Iran
The Palestinian Authority participated in the annual conference of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, which the United States removed from its terrorism list in 2012, while Hamas leaders welcomed incoming Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Within just a few days, the Palestinian division became clearly evident. On July 11, Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of Fatah’s Central Committee and the PLO’s Executive Committee, participated in the annual general conference of the Iranian Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK) resistance group, during which he gave a speech via video conference stressing his support for the Iranian opposition and reiterating the strength of relations between the two sides.
Only a few weeks later, Hamas’ political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement Ziad al-Nakhla took part Aug. 5 in the inauguration ceremony of new Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
The participation of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the inauguration ceremony of the Iranian president is based on strong public relations and punctuated by financial and military support provided by Iran to the resistance factions.
But Ahmad’s participation in the Iranian opposition conference raised questions related to its timing and implications and to whether it represents a shift in the position of the PLO and the Fatah movement toward Iran.
