PLO: No Truth to Former Ambassador's Claims Regarding Properties in Lebanon

SadaNews - A responsible source in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) denied the claims made by the former ambassador in Lebanon regarding the organization's properties.

The source stated that the rumors launched by former ambassador Ashraf Dabbour, who has been retired and is wanted for justice in corruption cases related to the properties of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon, are baseless.

It was emphasized that the aim behind spreading these lies is to confuse the ongoing investigations into many financial and real estate files that he is accused of mishandling during his tenure at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Lebanon from 2012 to 2025, in his capacity as the authorized signatory on the embassy's financial accounts, engaging in property transactions and paying amounts contrary to their true value, and withdrawing cash amounts from embassy accounts and keeping them in a personal fund.

The source added that all these files are under investigation by Palestinian judicial authorities that summoned him to appear before them, and after his refusal, an arrest warrant was issued against him through Interpol.

As for the properties of the Palestine Liberation Organization abroad, specifically in Lebanon and Syria after the withdrawal of Palestinian revolution forces from these countries, part of these properties have been taken over by various entities and individuals. The responsible source confirmed that official committees composed of the highest recognized political and national levels for their integrity have been tasked with inventorying these properties abroad specifically in Lebanon and Syria, establishing their ownership and correcting their legal status as they belong to the Palestinian people, and no one, regardless of who they are, has the right to dispose of them except for the public interest.

The source noted that a significant part of these properties has indeed been recovered and its legal status has been rectified, and work is still underway to conclude this file and recover all properties without exception, pointing to the city of the "Martyrs' Captivity" in Syria, which is considered an important Palestinian national landmark, where coordination with the brotherly Syrian authorities is ongoing to establish its ownership for the Palestine Liberation Organization, as it is a strategic asset for the Palestinian people.

The source urged those who spread these lies (and those behind them) to surrender themselves and provide any documents they claim to have to the Palestinian judicial authorities for verification and to settle the matter conclusively.

It was affirmed that these properties and others fall within the jurisdiction of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and it is not permissible to dispose of them without the approval of the competent authorities in the organization according to the established procedures.

The source called on the media to verify any information handled regarding this issue, holding the legal responsibility on those who promote these lies, and stated that this will be pursued legally.