PLO Executive Committee Holds Meeting in Ramallah

SadaNews - The Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization held a meeting this Wednesday evening, chaired by Deputy Chairman Hussein al-Sheikh, at the organization's headquarters in Ramallah, to discuss a number of political and national issues. The Executive Committee discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, particularly the Israeli occupation government's unlawful decision to convert West Bank lands into so-called "state property", emphasizing that it constitutes a serious escalation and a blatant violation of international law and international legitimacy, threatening the stability of the entire region. The Executive Committee pointed out that this Israeli decision represents a clear declaration of the actual start of the annexation of occupied Palestinian land and an end to signed agreements, which necessitates a serious Arab and international stance to compel the occupation to retreat from these dangerous policies aimed at nullifying international legitimacy and international law that affirmed the illegality of settlement in all Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. The Executive Committee also addressed the announcement from the U.S. embassy in Israel regarding providing consular services in settlements in the West Bank, confirming that this announcement is an unacceptable attempt to legitimize settlement, which is considered illegal and illegitimate according to Resolution 2334 issued by the Security Council with the approval of the previous U.S. administration. It also constitutes a deliberate violation of the existing understandings between successive U.S. administrations and the Palestinian National Authority for decades, calling on the U.S. administration to obligate its embassy to adhere to the rules of international law and international legitimacy. The Executive Committee condemned the dangerous statements made by the U.S. ambassador to the occupation, Hakobi, in which he claimed that Israel has a Biblical right to control the entire Middle East from the Nile to the Euphrates, stressing that these statements contradict religious and historical facts and represent an infringement on the sovereignty of states and diplomatic norms. It called on the U.S. administration to take serious positions on these statements, which completely contradict President Trump's statements rejecting the annexation of the West Bank and his vision for achieving peace in the Middle East. The committee also renewed its welcome for the establishment of a liaison office affiliated with the Palestinian National Authority, providing an official channel for coordination and communication between the Peace Council representative's office and the National Authority to implement President Trump’s plan and Security Council Resolution 2803, noting that the liaison office has been established under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and is ready to undertake its full responsibilities. The Executive Committee discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, the continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire, the ongoing policy of killing and displacement, and the delay in the entry of aid. It called for the immediate implementation of the second phase of President Trump's plan and Security Council Resolution 2803, which calls for the complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the disarmament of armed factions according to the principle of one state, one law, and one legitimate weapon, to begin the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in coordination with the Palestinian government. The Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization called on the international community, foremost the United Nations Security Council, to put an end to the dangerous Israeli practices in the West Bank, which include incursions into Palestinian cities, villages, and camps, killing and capturing our people, providing protection to settlers to practice terrorism by burning houses and places of worship, attacking villages and cities, in addition to cutting off Palestinian cities and preventing worshippers from performing their religious rituals, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan, and increasing settlers’ incursions into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, warning of the dangers posed by the occupation authorities’ continued detention of Palestinian clearance funds, in violation of signed agreements, which adversely affects the ability of the Palestinian government to fulfill its responsibilities towards our people, affirming that the Palestinian leadership will take action on all fronts to confront this Israeli piracy and bullying. The Executive Committee expressed its deep astonishment at the international silence regarding the destructive Israeli policies to international efforts aimed at halting escalation and violence and achieving calm, pointing out that condemnations alone are not enough to stop this Israeli madness aimed at igniting the region. It emphasized that the Palestinian side has responded to all efforts and calls to stop the cycle of violence and wars, worked to succeed in President Trump's ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip, and cooperated with all parties to ensure the success of the International Peace Council established by President Trump and the Gaza Management Committee, affirming the unity of all Palestinian land in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, despite the Israeli policies that contradict the simplest rules of international law and Israel's refusal to recognize international legitimacy decisions and its deliberate sabotage of efforts to establish a ceasefire. The Executive Committee emphasized that in light of the continuation of aggressive occupation policies, the Palestinian leadership will take significant measures at the political, legal, and diplomatic levels, and will develop a comprehensive Palestinian national plan to confront the challenges of the upcoming phase to preserve the higher interests of the Palestinian people. The Executive Committee welcomed the ongoing dialogue among the factions of the Palestine Liberation Organization to confront what our national cause is facing and to emerge with a comprehensive national vision to address the dangerous policies of the occupation authorities, considering the Palestine Liberation Organization the legitimate and only representative of our Palestinian people, welcoming the completion of a joint understanding document between the Fatah Movement and the Popular Front, which is set to be presented to the other factions of the organization in the framework of preserving the independent national decision within the Palestinian political and legal system and within the Palestinian house "Palestine Liberation Organization". The Executive Committee welcomed the preparations underway for holding local council elections next April, emphasizing the importance of uniting efforts to succeed in this Palestinian democratic celebration. The Executive Committee commended the steadfastness of our people in all Palestinian territories despite the tyranny of occupation and its abusive policies, affirming that this steadfast people will remain resolute on their homeland, and that activating peaceful popular resistance is the optimal choice to preserve our gains and constants against the schemes and objectives of the occupation that will fail as all previous conspiracies and plans have failed.