The statements made by Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mishaal during his recent visit to Jordan, as well as in an interview with the BBC, about concerted efforts to bring about Palestinian reconciliation are encouraging and important.

The importance stems from many factors.

Bridging the divide between Gaza and the West Bank will reflect positively on the lives of ordinary Palestinians who have suffered a lot from such division, be it at personal or societal and developmental level. So many development projects that could have helped the Gazans came to a halt because of the division, worsening the already bad living conditions.

A division between the West Bank and Gaza reflects negatively on the feeling of solidarity among Palestinians who are one people and should be governed by one government.

Such fragmentation affects the concept of Palestinian nationhood and the very fate of the Palestinian state.

It is, in many ways, similar to the division that existed between the two Germanys prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The Palestinian population has been suffering from the Israeli occupation. The last thing it needs is more suffering and division imposed by Palestinian leaders.

Moreover, a Palestinian reconciliation will deprive Israel of the opportunity — partly, at least — to continue procrastinating or avoiding peace negotiations under the pretext of Palestinian division.

Israelis often said that after giving Gaza back to the Palestinians, it turned into a haven for extremists and “terrorists” whose main aim is the destruction of Israel, using this as an excuse not to give back more territory.

Additionally, when and if Israel decides to negotiate in earnest with the Palestinians a viable solution to their conflict, it is to the advantage of all that the Palestinians face Israel united.

Hamas has a great opportunity to prove that an Islamist political party is able to share power with others and participate in governance with sincerity and professionalism.

So far, Islamists in most countries in the Arab world where they are either fully governing or taking part in governance proved to be incapable of working with others or sharing power.

It is to the advantage of other Islamist parties and to Hamas itself if this experiment succeeds, especially since it failed several years ago.

It is hoped that this time Hamas will have learnt a lesson from what is happening in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and other countries in the region and beyond.

Palestinian reconciliation should be given a chance. Under unity, all Palestinians will be winners. In separation, they are all losers. They, and Israel.