Palestinian Differences Scuttle Moscow Declaration

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shakes hands with Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad during a meeting with representatives of Palestinian groups in Moscow (AFP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shakes hands with Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad during a meeting with representatives of Palestinian groups in Moscow (AFP)
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Palestinian Differences Scuttle Moscow Declaration

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shakes hands with Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad during a meeting with representatives of Palestinian groups in Moscow (AFP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shakes hands with Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad during a meeting with representatives of Palestinian groups in Moscow (AFP)

Disagreements between Palestinian factions have hindered the adoption of the “Moscow Declaration” following a failure to agree on its final draft.

Palestinian parties exchanged blame for such failure, but decided to pursue discussions as part of a new call for dialogue that Cairo is expected to launch in the coming weeks.
 
On the third day of the round of talks in Moscow, the situation seemed unclear, as the factions continued heated discussions shortly after the announcement of a "semi-final" draft of the joint statement.
 
Disagreements mainly lied on the wording of some items, as several participants have refused to sign paragraphs underlining that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was the “legitimate and sole representative” of the Palestinians.

The head of Fatah delegation to the meetings, Azzam Al-Ahmad apologized in public to Russia as an organizer of the event.

“We apologize, we could not appreciate friendship well,” he said. He also expressed “regret” over “optimistic positions in our talk with journalists.”
 
Al-Ahmad explained a few differences, pointing out that some of the attendees refused to sign paragraphs confirming the PLO as the "sole and legitimate representative", as well as texts referring to "the Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital."
 
But a Hamas source held Fatah responsible for Wednesday’s failed discussions, noting that the parties had agreed on an acceptable draft of the final statement.

The head of the Hamas delegation, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said Moscow wanted to issue a joint statement that would be a powerful pressure card in the face of Washington’s moves and the "deal of the century," but “time was not in our favor.”
 
Despite the disagreements, Abu Marzouk pointed to many converging points, including the importance of restoring unity, the need to end the siege on Gaza and to confront US plans.



Israel Is Ramping up Annexation of West Bank, UN Rights Chief Says 

Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)
Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)
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Israel Is Ramping up Annexation of West Bank, UN Rights Chief Says 

Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)
Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)

Israel has significantly expanded and consolidated settlements in the occupied West Bank as part of the steady integration of these territories into the State of Israel, in breach of international law, the UN human rights office said on Tuesday.

The report to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council later this month comes amid growing fears of annexation amid US policy shifts under President Donald Trump and new settler outposts in areas of the West Bank seen as part of a future Palestinian state.

"The transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies amounts to a war crime," UN High Commissioner Volker Turk said in a statement accompanying the report, urging the international community to take meaningful action on Israel’s advancing settlement.

"Israel must immediately and completely cease all settlement activities and evacuate all settlers, stop the forcible transfer of the Palestinian population, and prevent and punish attacks by its security forces and settlers," he said.

Israel disengaged from the UN Human Rights Council earlier this year, alleging a chronic anti-Israeli bias. Its military says it is conducting counter-terrorism operations in the West Bank and targeting suspected militants.