This paper provides an analysis of Israel’s vision of the latest Palestinian reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. According to the reconciliation agreement, the government of the Palestinian Authority (PA) will take over its tasks. The PA will regain control over the Gaza Strip after 10 years of the internal Palestinian political split.

This paper is premised on the statement that the Israeli position towards the Palestinian reconciliation was initially different from before. Israel’s position is informed by the fact that the Palestinian reconciliation intersects with regional and international actors, preventing Israel from adopting a position that culminates in conflict with these actors. Earlier, Israel strongly attacked every idea or step towards the Palestinian reconciliation. The statement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used to make  “The PA should choose between “terrorism or peace”  is famous in this context. It is true that Netanyahu expressed opposition to the Palestinian reconciliation, but that only aimed to claim that his position had not changed. However, it should be noted that Netanyahu’s usual insistence and tone against every Palestinian step remained absent this time. Again, this might be because the Palestinian reconciliation intersects with regional and international interests, which Israel cannot act against. This is particularly so in the case of Egypt, which has led the Palestinian reconciliation effort and placed pressure to conclude the reconciliation agreement.