Conclusions of the PLO Central Council Meeting

Media Briefs
April 30, 2014

26th session – April 26, 27
Ramallah, occupied Palestine

The PLO Central Council has convened its 26th session on 26-27 April 2014 under the title of “Prisoners and End of Split Session.”

Salim Zanoun inaugurated the session stressing full compliance with national constants and fundamental rights of the Palestinian people. He asseverated the path to national unity requires concerted efforts in order to protect, defend and secure it.

For his part, PLO Chairman President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas delineated the principles of the Palestinian national policy on all levels, especially in relation to the peace process and reconciliation. President Abbas reiterated the Palestinian rejection of the continuous threats and blackmails by Israel to obstruct the peace process and create a de facto situation on the ground.

The Council has reached the following conclusions based on the in-depth discussions and dialog that ensued during the session:

On the Level of Political and Negotiations

In the past Israel has sought to undermine the pillars of the peace process and to divest it of any meaning. The government of Israel has continuously exercised all forms of violations and infringements most notably settlement expansion in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Moreover, Israel has times and again shirked from fulfilling its obligation to release Palestinian prisoners and has unilaterally called for a freeze of the negotiations.

The Palestinian Central Council holds Israel fully responsible for sabotaging US and international efforts to reach a political settlement for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Accordingly, the Council has decided on the following:

  1. The resumption of the negotiations and the political process is contingent upon Israel’s unequivocal compliance with the pre-1967 borders, UN resolutions, full cessation of settlement activities including in East Jerusalem, and the implementation of signed agreement and treaties. Israel has to prioritize the consummation of pre-June 4, 1967 border agreement, including in East Jerusalem and consistently with UN resolutions. These are imperative requirements for future negotiations with Israel on other issues, including security, toward reaching a fair and comprehensive peace settlement. 
    The Central Council underscores its rejection of any framework agreement as an alternative for internationally recognized terms of reference, and upholds relevant UN resolutions on pre-1967 borders, including East Jerusalem, as well as the rights of refugees in line with UN Resolution 194 and the illegality of settlements, annexation of Jerusalem and unlawful Israeli activities.
     

  2. The Central council is determined to eliminate the Israeli military occupation of the territory of the State of Palestine, considers settlement activities illegal and rejects land swap.
     

  3. The Central Council insists on the release of the fourth batch of pre-Oslo prisoners numbering 30 and their return home. The Council calls for further efforts to release all other Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
     

  4. The Central Council plans to resort to the UN General Assembly and Security Council seeking international condemnation and renunciation of settlement activities, judaization of Jerusalem, and attacks on churches and mosques, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Council calls upon member states to impose sanctions on Israel and boycott Israeli companies and organizations supporting Israeli settlements and aggression.
     

  5. The Palestinian Central Council holds on to the full rights of the State of Palestine particularly the right to independence, sovereign-ty, full representation in international organizations, and accession to international conventions and charters. The Council acknowledges that the State of Palestine is under military occupation and has the right to reject, combat and alter this situation. 
    Israel, the occupying power, continues to shirk from signed agreements and therefore it will be held responsible for adverse political and legal repercussions entailed by the Fourth Geneva Convention and additional protocols to it. Israel is responsible for violating international agreement and international and humanitarian laws. Accordingly, the Central Council call on the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to take all necessary procedures to obligate Israel, the occupying power, to shoulder its responsibilities provided for in the agreements and protocols.
     

  6. The Central Council asserts its absolute rejection of the Israeli government demand to recognize the jewishness of the State of Israel.
     

  7. The Council calls for activating Palestine’s signature on Geneva conventions and reconfirms the right of the State of Palestine to complete its accession to international treaties, conventions and organizations.
     

  8. The Council advocates cooperation with international parties in order to revive the political process based on relevant UN resolutions and calls for coordinating the efforts of all parties through the UN or through convening an international peace conference that would lead to carrying out UN resolutions and putting an end to the Israeli manipulation of the international community and peace endeavors.

National Reconciliation and End of Split

The Central Council confirms its full support for the agreement concluded by PLO delegation with Hamas on April 23. The Council calls for accelerating the implementation of the agreement and ensuring the formation of a national unity government headed by President Mahmoud Abbas as soon as possible. In addition, the Council calls for fair and democratic elections as well as for activating the PLO and addressing all negative repercussions of the national split on the social, legal and democratic levels.

Furthermore, the Central Council reiterates its rejection of the Israeli threats and rabid campaign launched by the Israeli government against the Palestinian national reconciliation. The Council acknowledges that Israel was depending on internal Palestinian political schism to thwart the Palestinian liberation process and abort the establishment of the State of Palestine.

On the other hand, the Central Council salutes the international forces that have welcomed the reconciliation most notably Russia, People’s Republic of China, EU, UN, BRIC countries and most countries in the world. The Council is skeptic about the stance adopted by the US and attributes it to the US double-standard policy.

In particular, the Central Council extols the stance of the Arab League and Arab countries that have spared no effort to heal the rift between Fateh and Hamas. The Council calls on Arab countries to activate the financial and political security network in order to support the implementation of the reconciliation agreement and face any possible sanctions imposed by Israel on the Palestinian people.

The Council would like to extend gratitude to the Arab Republic of Egypt that has sponsored the national dialog and facilitated reaching a reconciliation agreement. The council would also like to highlight the importance of continued Egyptian support toward the implementation of the agreement.

Likewise, the council would like to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that has constantly supported the reconciliation process since Mecca Agreement and Qatar for its endeavors toward the consummation of Doha Declaration.

Internal Situation

The Palestinian Central Council, the authority that has decided in the name of the National Council to establish the PA, confirms that the UN General Assembly resolution recognizing the State of Palestine on pre-June 1967 borders and East Jerusalem its capital, and the international recognition of the State of Palestine as a non-member state in the UN and raising its representation status have created a new situation toward the consolidation of the legal status of the State of Palestine. Accordingly, the Central Council has decided on the formation of a committee from among its members that would present its recommendations on this regard to the Executive Committee and the Council within thirty days in order to continue and enhance all necessary steps that would ensure the consolidation of this new status of the State of Palestine both internally and externally, based on the Declaration of Independence that guarantees Palestine’s plural and democratic system.

Jerusalem

The central council regards Jerusalem as a central issue on top of the national Arab and international list of priorities. The council calls for cooperating with the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation to declare Jerusalem the political, spiritual and cultural capital of the Arab and Moslem world. Jerusalem is a core issue in international arenas, UN General Assembly and UN organizations.

In addition, the Central Council confirms its support to Palestinian citizens residing in Jerusalem and to national institutions in the holy city. The Council calls for uniting all forces within a single framework in order to defend Jerusalem, confront Israeli violations in the city particularly Israel desecration of Al-Aqsa mosque and attacks on Moslem and Christian holy sites, and put an end to the judaization of the city. Moreover, the Council urges support for the establishment of the Jerusalem Fund.

Gaza

The Council calls for the exertion of maximum efforts to relieve the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip from acute suffering and deprivation caused by the Israeli military siege and provide them with basic needs in order to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the strip. The Council urges the national unity government to undertake this responsibility as a priority and start the reconstruction process of Gaza so that Palestinians there can proceed in the national struggle and steadfastness in the face of Israeli pressure and aggression. The Council demands countries who have declared their intention to donate Gaza reconstruction fund to fulfill their commitment.

Prisoners

The central Council salutes Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and calls for their release. The Council considers the issue of the prisoners a central one on the political and national levels, and calls for international support for their release and for ending the Israeli aggression against them. In addition, the Council calls for continued care for families of prisoners, preserving their dignity and enforcing the law in this regard.

Popular Resistance

The Central Council salutes the continuation and widespread of popular resistance.  The Council calls for reinforcing the resistance and provide it will all elements of success and sustainability. The Council also calls for support of the initiatives made by different sectors of the Palestinian society in defense of the land from Israeli settlement expansion as well as from the apartheid wall. The council also highlights the importance of coordination, unity and joint action among all national and popular forces in order to strengthen national resistance.

The Central Council lauds the international solidarity movement with the Palestinian people and the sanctions against occupation and settlements. The council calls for expanding the scope of international activities in 2014, which was announced by the UN a year of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Council also calls for the implementation of the Hague resolution on the apartheid wall.

Strengthening and Activating the PLO

The Central Council sees the necessity to strengthen and activate the PLO and its institutions through the re-formation of the National Council and the adoption of elections for membership on it, while preserving its representation and frontal character as it stands for the unity and full representation of the Palestinian people. The Council also calls for the re-formation of the Central council and the election of an executive a new committee while keeping the regular and periodic meetings of its institutions.

Moreover, the Central Council calls for the activation of Palestinian popular institutions in the diaspora through the PLO and national unions, which must have a broader role in protecting the rights of the Palestinian people. In this context, the Council affirms the importance of protecting the civil and social rights of the Palestinian people in Lebanon, of securing the refugee camps and preventing any intervention in their internal affairs, and respecting the sovereignty and law of Lebanon.

The Council calls for continued efforts to protect the Palestinian people in Syria, respect of refugee camps and avoid their sliding into the conflict. The Council stressed the importance of protecting and supporting Palestinian refugees in Syria.

In conclusion, the Central Council salutes and commemorates the Palestinian martyrs most notably the late president Yasser Arafat. The Council states the mission Palestinian martyrs died for will be defended and struggle will continue until liberty, return and independence are realized.

Long Live the State of Palestine
Long Live the PLO
Glory to Martyrs
Freedom to Prisoners

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