Jewish Group Says Palestinian Statehood Could Ignite Civil War Between Hamas, Fatah

The United Nations recognition of a Palestinian State at this year’s General Assembly could lead to a civil war between competing Palestinian political factions and a possible increase in attacks against Israel, says the head of a the World Jewish Congress, an organization dedicated to protecting Jewish communities. 

  “If this unilateral declaration were to be endorsed by the United Nations it would most likely trigger the continuation of a vicious cycle of violence within the Palestinian side.” Dan Diker, Secretary General of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), told reporters at the UN this afternoon. “The way that might play out is for Israel to be attacked, in order to distract attention from what is really happening, which is an internal Palestinian civil war between Fatah and Hamas.” 

Palestinian leadership continues to maintain it will seek recognition at the United Nations this fall, although details about the exact status of recognition it is looking for remain unclear. 

Diplomats say they have already secured support from over 120 countries. 

 Regardless of the questions surrounding the exact nature of the Palestinian request, groups like the WJC say any “unilateral” Palestinian action at the world body will set the peace process back decades and threaten the UN’s integrity. 

“It would be an egregious violation of the very peace framework that this institution[UN] has established for the Arab states and Israel and has supported in every single peace process since 1967.” 

Diker was at the UN along with members of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP), a coalition of Jewish legislators and ministers from around the world, to discuss support for Israel ahead of the General Assembly later this month. 

 ICJP Chair Fiamma Nirenstein, an Italian Member of Parliament, echoed the WJC Secretary General’s view  that recognition of Palestinian statehood would likely negate any previous international agreements between both parties. 

 “The moment when you arrive to unilateral declaration, you cancel them out…you make a blank slate.” she said, 

 Nearly a year ago, Palestinian leadership walked away from peace talks after Israel refused to extend a settlement freeze in the Occupied Territories. The UN has since voiced concern over an important increase in settlement construction. 

 The United States, Tel Aviv’s strongest ally at the world body, says continued construction of settlement is counter productive to peace efforts and illegitimate, but should not preclude negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Nirenstein dismissed the notion that the Netanyahu government’s stance on settlement expansion was a significant obstacle to Middle East Peace, and argued that the issue should be part of the final negotiation process. 

“A lot of the settlements have been dismantled in the Gaza strip, and probably the moment when there is an agreement, this is what will happen and the settlements will be dismantled.”