'Europeans, driven by fear of uncertainty, tend to support the authoritarian leadership of Abbas and the illusion of stability. Yet, Palestinian politics is dysfunctional and many Palestinians desire a new kind of leadership that moves beyond the entrenched Hamas–Fatah divide'

Meanwhile, Polisario is also warning against US draft UNSCR (to be voted next week) that would try to impose Moroccan autonomy as the only option.

Were it to pass, Polisario says it "will not engage in any political process or negotiations based on the content of the draft resolution."

'Free Association provides a useful framework for fulfilling Sahrawi self-determination. As existing practices show, there is a degree of variance in how free association can be applied. This provides some latitude in devising a final peace agreement with Morocco.'

In @ecfr.eu's 2021 report "Free to choose: A new plan for peace in Western Sahara", Jacob Mundy & I advocated for Free Association - a realistic third way for Western Sahara between independence & inclusion/autonomy in Morocco

Polisario now showing interest.

ecfr.eu/publication/...

More Polisario movement

Real news is not it accepting Moroccan autonomy if voted in referendum (an old position) but its potential shift towards negotiating a free association arrangement for Western Sahara "which could resemble what Morocco proposes"

barrons.com/news/w-sahar...

.@ecfr.eu has consistently called for an EU-negotiated trade liberalisation and fishery partnership agreement between Morocco and Polisario that could lay the economic foundations for a future WS peace agreement. Now is the chance!

Significantly, Polisario is now willing to negotiate with the EU "to reach mutually acceptable provisional arrangements that would preserve the current economic interests of the Kingdom of Morocco and any other third parties relating to the natural resources of Western Sahara."

Having read the full 10 page proposal --this is a serious, realistic and good faith shift by the Polisario. There is a lot to work with and the UN, Europe and US should welcome.

Most critically, while a final Polisario-Morocco agreement is still far, it provides the key to unlock direct talks.

"The Polisario does not need to abandon its dream of Sahrawi self-determination...But it does need to rethink how self-determination can best be achieved given the current geopolitical realities....There may also be a potential deal to be struck between the US and Algeria to support this..."

It is vital that EU pressure is maintained on Israel to uphold and expand its humanitarian commitments, while pressing it to agree to a permanent ceasefire deal and end its all IHL/IHRL violations in Gaza and the West Bank. --> This requires the EU to move forward with sanctions.

Getting humanitarian aid into Gaza, preferably in a ceasefire context, is a priority. But this should not mean total absolution for doing only the bare minimum even as Israel continues to kill civilians, destroy Gaza, & expand WB settlements (incl E1) in violation of EU redlines.

Undoubtedly strong supporters of Israel such as Germany, Italy etc will point to Israel's reported acceptance of increased aid deliveries to Gaza as vindication of their preference for engagement -- BUT -- this has been show to work only if backed-up with the threat of sanctions.

34. Right to life (ICCPR Art. 6)
35. Right to prompt judicial review (ICCPR Art. 9(3)–(4))
36. Right to self-determination (ICCPR and ICESCR Art. 1)
37. Right to work (ICESCR Art. 6)
38. Duty to investigate alleged acts of torture / right to complain (CAT Art. 12 and 13)