CHINA BROKER PALESTINIAN UNITY DECLARATION BID TO BE INITIAL GLOBAL MEDIATOR

Leaders of Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, signed a joint statement Tuesday in Beijing aimed at ending divisions between the bitter rivals, a deal bolstering China’s claim to being a global mediator but unlikely to heal the deep rift between the Palestinian political groups.

Chinese media hailed the “Beijing declaration” as a breakthrough and a sign of the country’s emerging role as a peace broker in faraway conflicts.

 In a speech after the talks ended, Chinese Foreign Minister Mr. Wang Yi called it a “historic moment for the cause of Palestine’s liberation” and highlighted the “consensus around establishing an interim national reconciliation government to manage Gaza after the war.”