In the Middle East, the Palestinian self-government has lost influence. Their president, Mahmoud Abbas, is therefore seeking proximity to an old protective power.
In the acute crisis in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin received long-time Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow. Russia must currently defend itself “with weapons in hand,” Putin said, referring to the war against Ukraine that he himself ordered. “But what is happening in the Middle East, what is happening in Palestine, of course has our attention,” the Kremlin chief said, according to Russian news agencies.
Abbas emphasized the closeness to Putin and to Russia, which is considered the long-standing protector of the Palestinians. “We believe in them, we trust them, we feel their support,” he said.
Mahmoud Abbas is an opponent of Hamas
Putin reiterated Moscow’s fundamental position on the Middle East conflict: “In order to create a lasting, reliable and stable peace in the region, all UN resolutions must be observed and, above all, a fully valid Palestinian state must be created.”
Abbas (88) has little support among the Palestinian population, partly because he has little to counter the violence of the Israeli settlers. He heads the PA and the secular Fatah faction. Fatah and Hamas are the two largest Palestinian organizations – and bitter rivals. According to Chinese state media, they and other Palestinian groups recently signed a declaration on strengthening Palestinian unity. The goal is a joint unity government, Palestinian media reported.
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However, similar agreements between the two organizations have not brought any progress in the past. Russian media also explain Abbas’ visit to Moscow by saying that Russia is one of the few powers that supports Palestinian unity.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
