Palestinian factions are expected to engage in talks that seek to help them agree on mechanisms capable of forming a government of technocrats and to allow their inclusion in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).
The complex task will be deliberated among these factions in a meeting in the Russian capital later this month, the first since the beginning of the current war on the Gaza Strip on October 7.
Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the invited Palestinian groups, including representatives of Fatah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, have already welcomed the Russian invitation.
“They will mainly discuss two issues; the formation of a government of technocrats and the inclusion of Hamas and Jihad in the PLO,” the sources said.
On Friday, Russia’s special presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said his country will host an inter-Palestinian meeting in Moscow from Feb. 29 to March 2.
Moscow has invited representatives of all Palestinian political forces, including those in Syria, Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries, in addition to the Fatah Movement, said Bogdanov, who is also the deputy foreign minister.
“The Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences has the honor to invite you to attend the fourth Palestinian meeting in Moscow, which will be held from February 28 to March 2, 2024,” Russia’s invitation letter said.
It said the meeting will be supported by the Russian Foreign Ministry and will be held behind closed doors.
At the talks in Moscow, the Fatah Movement will be represented by its Executive Committee member Azzam al-Ahmad while the Hamas Movement will be led by Musa Abu Marzouk, head of the group's International Relations Office.
Fatah and Hamas had previously engaged in multiple reconciliation attempts. But all have failed due to disputes on the nature of the government and its political agenda and commitments.
Also, the two sides disagree on the PLO file and its responsibilities, in addition to how the factions would be included in the PLO and the mechanism of their representation within the Organization.
At the upcoming meeting in Moscow, Fatah is expected to carry its own vision that calls for the unification of the Palestinian Authority and its full control of the Gaza Strip, including the security services.
Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Fatah will also call for the formation of a government of technocrats rather than a government of national consensus, insisting that it should be under the authority of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
According to Asharq Al-Awsat sources, Fatah will offer to form a committee to discuss Hamas’ inclusion in the PLO. It is not known how Hamas will respond to such a request.
Meanwhile, Fatah sources said the Movement would accept a government of technocrats, but under the authority of the PLO and not Abbas.
According to Asharq Al-Awsat sources, Hamas had already rejected conditions for joining the PLO because they stipulated that the Movement recognizes the PLO obligations and the international legitimacy, and thus the recognition of Israel.
An informed Palestinian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the talks in Russia are not official and would not bridge the gap between the factions.
However, the source said, “the talks are important to explore intra-Palestinian positions in the first face-to-face meeting between Fatah and Hamas” since the October 7 events.
