What is behind the Palestinian split and what makes it difficult to end? A historical institutional analysis from a settler colonial lens

Abstract

The persistence of the Palestinian split is often blamed on a lack of political will and the prioritisation of personal over national interests. However, political actors do not make decisions in a vacuum; their choices are shaped and constrained by the institutions to which they belong. Guided by relevant conceptual frameworks, I employ qualitative in-depth interviews to examine different perspectives on the root causes of the split and why it persists. The analysis indicates, first, that Fatah and Hamas operate in a context where Israel, as the setter colonial state, has a strong interest in maintaining the status quo, and where dependence on foreign aid means that donors significantly impact domestic politics and public policy. This institutional context imposes oppressive constraints to reconciliation on both Fatah and Hamas. Second, analysing Fatah and Hamas from an institutionalist perspective offers a nuanced understanding of the split by focusing on the intermediate level, located between the individual and structural levels. Future attempts at reconciliation between the Fatah-controlled West Bank and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip will require understanding this reality and embracing new approaches that create the necessary conditions for reconciliation.