The Palestinian National Council, which is currently convening in Ramallah, is examining the issue of transferring the Palestinian Authority to the context of a legal state and the reorganization of the role of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Ahmed Majdalani, member of the PLO executive committee, noted that the Council would also discuss the relations with Israel and the United States, as well as the nature and functions of the national authority.
The meetings of the National Council, held at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, continued on Tuesday for the second day. The morning session began with speeches by a number of representatives of Arab and international delegations.
Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League, Hussam Zaki, underlined the organization’s support of “all Palestinian options”, in the wake of the current developments.
Zaki emphasized the importance of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ proposal submitted before the UN Security Council, which calls for holding an international peace conference in mid-2018 to form an international and multilateral mechanism to foster the peace process.
He stressed in this regard that the Arab League was backing the Palestinians, especially in wake of the US announcement to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move its embassy there.
Speakers who addressed the event included representatives of Arab parliaments, the Turkish Parliament, the Communist Party of China, the Irish Sinn Fein, the French Communist Party, the Russian and Greek governments, and others.
The meetings of the national council kicked off on Monday in Ramallah, in the presence of around 600 members, representing Palestinian factions, forces, federations and military institutions, in addition to the legislative council.
The four-day PNC, which last convened in 1996, will include the election of new members.
The session comes a year after the Fatah elections, which established a new Central Committee and Revolutionary Council.
The PNC serves as the PLO parliament, representing all Palestinians at home and abroad. It currently has around 650 members, who represent Palestinian factions, forces and unions everywhere.
