[By Jiao Haiyang/China.org.cn]

Now comes the qualitative shift in Fatah-Hamas relations signaled by the recent Gaza rally at which the Palestinian President sounded the siren for national unity. In 2011, Fatah and Hamas signed a peace deal after five years of post-2007 election hostilities, but while they had talked the talk, they hadn't yet walked the walk. None of this is good news for Israel. Consequently, it can be expected to use all means at its disposal to prevent Hamas and Fatah from reconciling their differences.

Israel says it will "never" talk to Hamas and Hamas says it will "never" recognize Israel. There is division of opinion on the question of "a two-state solution." Significant differences still exist between Fatah and Hamas. But they must find ways to put their deepest differences on the back burner while cooperating on what they agree on.

President Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen) has long been largely ignored by Israel and its allies as a spokesman for all of Palestine with the claim that he does not represent Gaza. But the recent Fatah celebration in Gaza shows that previous levels of hostility have been tempered and both sides accept each as part of the same Palestine, each sharing the common goal of an independent Palestinian state. There will always be differences about how best to get to the final destination, but time and history always tend to effect political climate change along the way.

Fatah and Hamas must continue smoking the peace pipe, regardless of the gathering clouds of uncertainty ahead of Israel's upcoming elections – which are hardly expected to result in Israel offering either an olive branch to Fatah or a peace pipe to Hamas. President Abbas – now further strengthened by Palestine's new international status and Fatah's new engagement with Hamas – will find himself increasingly isolated by Israel, the U.S. and those countries in the EU that still see Hamas through Israel's eyes.

Fatah and Hamas must also urgently find new ways and means to tap into the new momentum they have entering 2013, in order to gain from the decisive increase in world support following Israel's failed effort to bomb Gaza back into the Stone Age and the UN vote. The Palestinians – with one voice or in chorus – must also find ways to engage those nations and international entities unwilling to continue to give unconditional support for Israel's repeated wholesale bombardments of Gaza.

What was yesterday might not be tomorrow, but tomorrow will undoubtedly be shaped by yesterday and today. It is now on Fatah and Hamas to cement the bridges to the strategic Palestinian unity.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.ccgp-fushun.com/opinion/earlbousquet.htm

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