T

he international community must give its support to the recent peace deal between the two main rival Palestinian factions. The agreement between the Al Fatah movement, which rules the West Bank, and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, brings not only the two groups together but also their people under one single authority, even if physically they are still separated.

Not unexpectedly, Israel has criticized the Egyptian-brokered deal as a big setback to any peace prospect with the Palestinians given Hamas’ UN designation as a terrorist group. Western governments have also threatened to cut the massive financial aid that has propped up the Fatah government.

But weren’t they the ones who criticized Palestinian Authority chair Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah for negotiating with Israel with the mandate of only half his people? They surely could not have been serious in suggesting that Israel could have cut a peace deal with the Palestinians in the West Bank but not those in the Gaza Strip. Abbas could not have been expected to sign any peace deal for the establishment of a Palestinian state without the Gaza strip.

At this stage in the peace process, it is far more important to tend to the interests of the Palestinian people and not so much about the prospect of peace with Israel. Interestingly, the Fatah-Hamas deal came in response to pressures from grassroots Palestinians who drew their inspiration from democratic uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. Their message is clear: Palestinian leaders need to put their house in order first before they negotiate and settle their dispute with Israel.

This means nothing less than establishing a democratically elected government, one managed on the principles of good governance and that is held accountable to the people. The Fatah-Hamas deal calls for the establishment of a credible technocratic authority to prepare for a free and fair election in both the West Bank and Gaza.

The eventual elected Palestinian government, whether under Fatah or Hamas, will be in a much better position to negotiate with Israel. It will have not only come to the table with a full mandate, but also with stronger leverage to press its claims. This show of unity is also important as the Palestinian Authority formally requests admission as a United Nations member state in September.

Like it or not, peace with Israel has a better chance of succeeding under a united rather than divided Palestine.