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Palestinian leaders grasp for unity in Ramallah-Beirut meeting

While the Sept. 3 meeting between major Palestinian faction leaders in Ramallah and Beirut was an unusual accomplishment in itself, many observers are cautious about crucial obstacles to change.
President Mahmoud Abbas (C) wears a protective mask as he attends a meeting of the Palestinian leadership to discuss the United Arab Emirates' deal with Israel to normalise relations, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on August 18, 2020. (Photo by MOHAMAD TOROKMAN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMAD TOROKMAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

An unprecedented meeting of the Palestinian leadership took place Sept. 3 in a sign of a possible reconciliation and agreement on a national strategy. The local heads of Palestinian factions met in the Ramallah presidential headquarters with leaders residing abroad joining in by video conference from Beirut. President Mahmoud Abbas, who called for the meeting, arrived more powerful than he has been in years due to his steadfast opposition to unilateral Israeli and US plans, as well as the US-brokered normalization agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

Fatah's Jibril Rajoub, who led the recent reconciliation efforts with Hamas, read out the final communique, which committed the assembled leaders to developing a unified national strategy for peaceful popular resistance and reconciliation. Committees focused on strategy, PLO rehabilitation and reconciliation were formed and given deadlines to present recommendations. Abbas — who vowed to be supportive of all recommendations — said that the results of this effort will be presented to the Palestine Central Committee within five weeks.

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