Following the appointment of a new Chinese ambassador to the PA, and in light of the dramatic normalization agreement signed several weeks ago by Saudi Arabia and Iran,[1] which was brokered by China, the May 2, 2023 editorial of the Palestinian daily Al-Quds suggested that China could also broker a reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, and stated that the Palestinians people yearn for its involvement. Titled "China and Its Central Role in The World and in Palestine," the editorial praised this country for its many achievements and for the "amazing" progress it has made in the areas of economy, science and technology. After commending China for supporting the rights of the Palestinians, including in international forums, and for the aid it extends to them, it noted that this country plays a central and important role in the Middle East and the world, and expressed hope it could help end the intra-Palestinian schism.[2]
It should be noted that the Palestinian leadership has also called for Chinese involvement in the efforts to revive the negotiations with Israel. In a May 6, 2023 meeting in Ramallah with the new Chinese ambassador, Zeng Jixin, PLO Executive Committee member Ahmad Majdalani said that China plays an important and vital role, and called on it to launch a new peace initiative, "in light of the diplomatic vacuum, the American monopoly over the peace process, and the latter's clear bias in favor of the occupation state." Majdalani added: "China's success in achieving a reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran reflects the waning of the American hegemony in the Gulf and the Middle East, and lends credibility to the [People's] Republic of China and its ability to influence international affairs. This paves the way to… active [Chinese] involvement in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, with an eye to increasing the stability in the Middle East."[3]
Chinese Ambassador Zeng Jixin with PLO Executive Committee member Ahmad Majdalani (Image: Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, PA, May 7, 2023)
The following are translated excerpts from the Al-Quds editorial:[4]
"Whoever follows this [topic] witnesses the amazing strides the People's Republic of China has made in all areas: political, diplomatic, economic, commercial, scientific, technological and technical. Thanks to the successful revolution led by Mao Zedong in 1949, this country has managed over the years to transform itself from a feudal country devastated by the [Japanese] occupation into a superpower. In fact, it is [now] the second most [powerful] country in the world, if not the most [powerful]. The most important development that took place and is still taking place in China is its becoming the [world's] leading manufacturer, especially of garments, for its products reach every part of the world, including the state of Palestine.
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"On the political and diplomatic level, China supports the rights of our Palestinian people to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. It holds ties with the PA and has an embassy in Ramallah, which acts to develop the friendly relations with Palestine and helps launch various economic, commercial and cultural enterprises. China is a loyal [supporter] of struggling peoples, especially the Palestinian people, since it itself has suffered occupation. That is why we see it extending unreserved support, according to its ability, to our people's struggle to attain its freedom and independence… China upholds the Palestinians' rights, and votes in favor of our people and our cause in the UN and the Security Council. It believes in a two-state solution anchored in truth and justice.
"On the Arab and international level, we cannot ignore the part China played in renewing the relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which will have a clear impact on our people's cause. [The scenario] Israel has wagered on, that the Arab countries will continue to normalize [their relations] with it – and especially the option, touted in the past by [Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu, that Saudi Arabia will normalize its relations with the occupation state – has become difficult to attain.
"This begs the following question: If China managed to renew the relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, why shouldn't it mediate an end to the Palestinian schism[?]… Our people yearn to see China playing a role in ending this devastating schism, which the occupation state and the U.S. have acted to perpetuate to this very day. [In fact,] they are acting to turn it into a complete disconnect [between the West Bank and Gaza]. This situation sets the Palestinian struggle back many years, and threatens the achievements attained by the contemporary [Palestinian] revolution in the campaigns it waged to promote our people's cause. [For this cause] was neglected, and there were attempts to turn it into a matter of refugees needing aid, and nothing more, until this revolution came and turned it into a blatant political issue.
"We thank China for the aid it extended and is still extending [us], and for its political and diplomatic support. Our people will not forget China and the other countries that supported and support us. Many thanks to China and to all the countries that support our people and our just cause. China plays an important and central role in the Middle East and the world, [a role] based on helping peoples without exploiting them, and on leading them to progress and development."
Work meeting between the new Chinese Ambassador to the PA, Zeng Jixin, and Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki (Image: .facebook.com/profile.php?id=100050667511111, May 2, 2023)
[1] See MEMRI See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 10522, In Saudi Press, Cautious Optimism Follows Saudi-Iranian Renewal Of Relations, March 13, 2023.
[2] It should be mentioned that the relations between China and the Palestinian Authority (PA) are good. For example, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang recently spoke on the phone with his Palestinian counterpart Riad Al-Maliki, and expressed China's support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He stressed that China also supports the Palestinian bid for full UN membership, and is willing to help relaunch negotiations with Israel towards realizing the two-state solution. In addition, the foreign ministers discussed PA President Mahmoud Abbas' upcoming visit to China, slated for June 2023 (fmprc.gov.cn, alquds.com, April 17, 2023). Similar messages were conveyed at a recent meeting between the new Chinese ambassador to the PA, Zeng Jixin, and Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki (wafa.ps, May 3, 2023). As for China's relations with Hamas, the situation is less clear. There are no media reports on such relations, or about Chinese involvement in mediation between the PA and Hamas.
[3] Nedalshabi.ps, May 6, 2023; Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (PA), May 7, 2023.
[4] Al-Quds (East Jerusalem), May 2, 2023.
