Opinion | Initiated by Xi and Macron, Summer Olympics in Paris is for world peace

By Augustus K. Yeung

The last time President Xi Jinping went to Paris, France starting his three-nation visits to Europe, he suggested to Macron, the French president and both agreed that there should be peace, meaning no wars – during the World Olympics in Paris, if my memory serves me right.

One good turn leads to another. Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah signed a declaration in Beijing on ending a yearslong rift, Chinese state media said on Tuesday, July 23.

The two groups signed the Beijing Declaration on "ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity," according to CCTV. This declaration by the two heavyweights of Palestinian politics to form a unity government for the Palestinian territories is the result of the latest in a series of talks meant to unite the sides.

Note: Other smaller Palestinian groups also took part in the talk that led to the signing of the Declaration. But previous declarations have failed, including a similar deal in 2011, casting doubt over whether the China-sponsored negotiations might actually lead to a resolution.

Israel's FM Israel Katz was quick to reject the agreement yesterday, stating that no joint governance between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza will take place "because Hamas's rule will be crushed."

The two rival Palestinian groups, along with 12 other political factions, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, concluding talks that started Sunday, according to a post on social media platform Weibo from Chinese TV network CGTN.

The agreement underscores China's growing role in Middle East diplomacy, with success in the restoration of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

A joint statement (issued after the most recent talks in Beijing) gave no details on how or when the government would be formed, saying only that it would be done "by agreement among the factions." According to the joint statement, the two groups are committed to the creation of a Palestinian state on lands Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War.

The deal does not appear to bridge the two groups' diverging positions on Israel. Hamas previously said it would accept a state based on 1967 borders – while also refusing to officially recognize Israel. The Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, meanwhile, abides by interim peace agreements with Israel – signed in the early 1990s.

The agreement signed by the Palestinian faction promised to follow up on previous reconciliation agreements signed in both 2011 and 2022.

Note: Fatah and Hamas have been rivals since Hamas violently routed forces loyal to Palestinians. Hamas members have never been part of the Palestinian government body (PLO) responsible for international affairs.

In a statement, Husam Badran, a Hamas political official based in Qatar praised the China-sponsored agreement, describing it as a further "positive step towards achieving Palestinian national unity." (Source: MDT/AP)

There is no doubt that China is behind the talks, or that it is helping to unite all the factions together: As the Palestinians are so very divided, there is no one authority really to represent the interests of the Palestinians in negotiations with the Israelis for a permanent settlement. The divided Palestinians would never be able to form a state if they remained divided because they are not a united force.

In my opinion, the reality of a newly created united body would strengthen the hands of the Palestinians in their future negotiation with their Israeli counterparts. Besides, the Biden administration is under tremendous pressure from protest groups back in America to end genocidal atrocities such as destroying children's hospitals and killing women and senior citizens in groups, which is weakening the president's image as a world leader.

China's intentions and efforts have all along been consistent and now seen as persistent. Thus, it is no accident that the talks were held in Beijing for two or three days and that the statement of declarations was signed, creating a new reality consisting of the Fatah, the political wing and Hamas, the military wing.

"The understanding in China is based on widening the scope of the membership on the PLO to include other factions who have not joined it" including Hamas said Jamal Nazzal, a Fatah spokesman.

"There is an opportunity…but it is not big, because it lacks a specific timetable for implementation," said Hani Al-Masry, an expert on Palestinian reconciliation affairs. (Source: MDT/AP)

China, too, is an expert on negotiations. What's more, that which it has done in Beijing is the right strategy, or the Palestinians would never be able to synergize and present themselves to the world as a united front, not to mention facing tough negotiations with the Benjamin Netanyahu administration – which is bent on stifling the divided factions, forever denying them nationhood.

The right mindset is to call all Palestinians to arms and appear to the outside world as a political entity, leaving the rest for factions to sew and stitch the fallen pieces of fabric together as one seamless clothing, whatever style it may like to present itself to the outside world.

To me, China stands an excellent chance of seeing to it that its "two-state proposal" will work eventually. What is more, its role as a regional mediator in the Middle East is gaining traction, helping to bring world peace, and polishing its international image as a maker of peace.

Or else, Japan and Korea will find it very difficult to believe that China is trying very hard to bring peace to the Asia-Pacific region.

State trust is not built in one day; neighboring countries need to be convinced that China's ambition is not for self-serving purposes. I believe that China will continue to be consistent and persistent.

Peace talks in the Middle East aside, China will decidedly throw all its weights around, be supportive of the nation's athletes – and be competitive with the United States in the Paris Olympics 2024 for gold medals, while ferociously rekindling together with France the Olympic spirit which extols the value of world peace.

 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

To contact the writer, please direct email:AugustusKYeung@ymail.com

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