Link to article: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-719809
The death of two Palestinians during firefights with Israeli Defense Forces in the Jenin refugee camp on Friday sheds light on the increasing cooperation between the ruling Fatah faction and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) factions. Increasing cooperation has also been seen in Nablus in recent months. One of the dead Palestinians was from the PIJ’s al-Quds Brigade, and the second was from Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. This cooperation between factions takes place despite the political differences between the two groups. PIJ is against any peace movements with Israel and has called on the Palestinian Authority, primarily Fatah loyalists, to cease any and all talks with Israel. PIJ has also made statements against the Palestinian Authority for arresting some of its’s men in the west bank. According to some officials, the cooperation between Fatah and the PIJ in the northern West Bank is a direct result of the security crackdown currently in effect by the Israeli Defense Force on palestinian gunmen of all factions
This realization will be worrying for Israel as it means that they will be facing more unified opposition, as opposed to the unorganised separate entities they had been battling with in the past. If relations between the two groups can continue to improve and cooperation improve, then they may be capable of making serious changes and will make them a much more dangerous and powerful foe. How these groups will get along politically remains to be seen, supporter of these groups may not appreciate that they are working with factions with different beliefs and plans for Palestine. This could possibly lead to instability and poor public opinion of the two groups, even among former supporters. This cooperation could either unite Palestine against Israel, or be its destroyer.
This relates to our in class discussion of international relations when looking at Stateless Nations, Palestine is not seen as an official state by the United Nations, as a result of Israel and the United States not recognising them as such. This also relates to the realist theory. Palestinian fighters are recognising that in order to fight against Israel, they must band together. They may be willing to sacrifice the chance of their faction becoming the dominant faction in Palestine and having majority control over its people as well as getting to dictate the political structure and laws. In order to achieve their primary goal of beating Israel.