analysis
Meir Shamir
National Congress: Review of strength or weakness?
An important event that has not taken place in the past nine years is taking place in Ramallah. The National Council, which appears to be the most important (apparently), will hold a special meeting
At a sensitive time, about two weeks before the US embassy's transfer to Jerusalem, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a meeting of the Palestinian National Council, the supreme body of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Ramallah. The goal is clear. It is a review of a force that is supposed to grant it legitimacy again from the PLO institutions, while facing two important conflicts: the first is an external struggle against Trump, Israel and Saudi Arabia to a certain extent, and the other internal, against Hamas.
In fact, with the exception of small and insignificant organizations, only PLO leaders remain in the PNC. Hamas will not participate in the conference, nor will the Islamic Jihad, which was also boycotted by the Popular Front. So, what is the purpose of the meeting? Abbas can assert his control over the PLO, whose symbolic significance remains significant. In addition, there is talk of a rich organization, so the selection of the new members of the committee is good news for them and may be trusted.
After the "Great March of Return" became small and insignificant in just five weeks, all sides turned towards mid-May. On May 14, the Americans are expected to celebrate the opening of the new embassy in Jerusalem (in the existing consulate building). At a time when people claim to be insensitive, because it comes before May 15, the day of the Palestinian Nakba, we can not know whether the situation will deteriorate or that day will pass peacefully. There are also difficulties on the home front: Instead of progress towards reconciliation, relations between Hamas and Fatah are deteriorating further and further. Minister Yuval Steinitz, who is close to the prime minister, criticized the economic sanctions imposed by Abu Mazen on Hamas, suggesting that Israel transfer funds to Gaza from the taxes it collects for the Palestinian Authority.
While Abu Mazen is facing these challenges, it is no surprise that he needs legitimacy and support that he can recruit. The question is whether we are talking about political support or that it will make important decisions, such as severing relations with Israel (in practice) or unilateral declaration of the Palestinian Authority as a state. In light of the ongoing Palestinian political failure, no long speech will change the situation.
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